The annual grand festival is held at Achi Shrine in May and October.
If you walk around the Bikan Historical Area on the day of the festival, you may encounter Suinkyo, wearing a brown mask and carrying a red fan.
As they pass by, Suinkyo gently tap people on the head with their fans. Their distinctive appearance and atmosphere may startle you at first, but this act is said to carry the wish, “May you be happy.”
The Suinkyo tradition dates all the way back to the Edo period and is now carried on by the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society.
We spoke with the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society about the feelings behind carrying on the Suinkyo tradition.
The information presented was current when this article was published in May 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Kurashiki’s famous Suinkyo
Suinkyo is a character who appears during Achi Shrine’s festivals (the spring and autumn grand festivals) and is a local specialty dating back to the Edo period.
Suinkyo wear masks of “Jiji” and “Baba” and gently tap passersby on the head with red fans. It has long been said that being tapped by Suinkyo makes you wiser, helps you live longer, and brings good fortune.
They have enlivened festivals for many years as figures who spread happiness.
Although Suinkyo are gentle nowadays, some locals say that “Suinkyo used to be scary.”
Let’s first look back at the history of Suinkyo and how they have changed over time.
The history of Suinkyo from the Edo period to the present
Suinkyo are said to have originated in the Edo period.
At the time, inspired by Kyoto’s Gion Festival, people in Kurashiki Village apparently thought, “Let’s make the sacred procession of Myoken-gu grand.”
Myoken-gu
Now known as Achi Shrine.
From the early Edo period to the early Meiji period, Kanryuji Temple managed it as the temple in charge of the shrine.
Later, under the separation of Shinto and Buddhism policy of 1869, the sacred object of Myoken-gu was taken in by Kanryuji Temple and enshrined in its Myokendo Hall.
As the villages divided up their roles, an elderly couple assigned to perform the lion dance found it difficult to participate because of their age. So they made masks representing themselves, “Jiji” and “Baba,” and had young people wear them and take part in the festival on their behalf.
These “Jiji” and “Baba,” who appeared at the 1692 festival, became the origin of the Suinkyo tradition that continues today.
During the Edo period, Suinkyo’s role was to perform the lion dance when the mikoshi (portable shrine) stopped. “Jiji” and “Baba” seem to have been friendly toward local people and popular characters.
In the Meiji period, after the separation of Shinto and Buddhism policy of 1869 left Myoken-gu’s main shrine empty, it was renamed “Achi Shrine,” after “Achi,” an old name for Kurashiki. The enshrined deities were also changed to the Three Munakata Goddesses.
The sacred procession of Myoken-gu was apparently discontinued at this time, but calls for its revival grew, and it was revived in 1872 as the sacred procession of Achi Shrine.
However, after its revival, the procession was streamlined, with elements such as the mikoshi drums discontinued, and fewer parishioners taking part. As a result, parishioners who did not participate in the procession said, “From now on, we’ll bring out the mikoshi ourselves!” They piled up futons to make a portable shrine and enliven the festival. This is the Senzairaku of today.
Suinkyo also appeared on these occasions, taking on the role of keeping children who approached the Senzairaku from getting hurt.
Senzairaku
“Senzairaku” is a type of festival float found throughout the Seto Inland Sea region. It has a vertically positioned drum inside and a roof made by stacking futons. It is the common name for this type of float in southern Okayama Prefecture. The number of futons varies from one to nine, and some have carvings on the panels between them.Source: Takahashi River Basin Kids
Suinkyo used their fans to tap children and shoo them away, while the children teased Suinkyo with chants to make them chase after them. Such exchanges were also said to be a familiar sight at festivals.
Suinkyo used to tap children to keep them safe. Over time, this evolved into the present-day sayings that “being tapped by Suinkyo helps you grow up healthy” and “being tapped by Suinkyo brings happiness.”
The forceful, vigorous way of tapping also apparently became gentler over time.
About the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society
The Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society is a civic organization dedicated to protecting and passing on the traditional Suinkyo culture.
Originally, Suinkyo appeared only at Achi Shrine’s grand festivals, but their activities have now expanded.
Activities of the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society
The Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society’s main activity is taking part in festivals.
Suinkyo appear at various festivals around the city, including Achi Shrine’s spring and autumn grand festivals, the Mabi-Funao Soodori Dance Festival, and the Kurashiki Tenryo Summer Festival.
In fiscal year 2024, they also carried out the following activities:
- Welcoming passengers of JR West’s “Twilight Express Mizukaze” at JR Kurashiki Station and taking part in a networking event
- Participating in local events such as “Kurashiki LIVE-GYM” and “Kurashiki White-Walled Bridal Procession”
- Planning hands-on events, including Suinkyo experiences and mask-making for children
- Giving presentations at Kurashiki City staff training sessions and public lectures
- Providing entertainment during dinner at a demonstration tour for MICE
(MICE is a general term for business events expected to attract many visitors and foster exchange.)
In addition to interacting with people as Suinkyo, they also work extensively to share Suinkyo culture, history, and techniques through training sessions and hands-on events.
In 2025, Suinkyo were appointed Kurashiki Japan Heritage Ambassadors, so they are likely to have even more opportunities to be active in the future.
The Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society continues to preserve the Suinkyo tradition, which dates back to the Edo period. We spoke with its secretary-general, Oda Akihiro, and Ando Toshiharu about what they find rewarding in their work.
Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society Information
| Name | Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society |
|---|---|
| Website | Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society |
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