As nuclear families have become more common and living in condominiums and apartments has become the norm, have opportunities for neighborhood adults and children to interact been declining? I myself live in an apartment without knowing what kind of people my neighbors are or what kind of work they do.
Even in these times, there are still districts in Kurashiki City where adults continue to pass down festivals together with children.
I visited Ko Hachimangu Shrine, where a grand festival is held featuring “shagiri,” festival music passed down orally from adults in the district to children, and danjiri floats that bring the festivities to life.
The information presented was accurate when this article was published in December 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the grand festival at Ko Hachimangu Shrine?
The grand festival at Ko Hachimangu Shrine was held over two days, Saturday, October 12, and Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Ko Hachimangu Shrine in Kojima and in its parishioner districts of Kaminocho, Shimonochō, Tanokuchi, and Karakoto in Kojima, Kurashiki City. It consisted of the following events:
- A mikoshi procession, in which the shrine deity travels between Ko Hachimangu Shrine and the district’s otabisho (temporary shrine)
- A festival in which nineteen danjiri floats and sendairoku floats enliven the districts and the grounds of Ko Hachimangu Shrine to the accompaniment of festival music (hereafter referred to as “shagiri”)
The festival music performed at Ko Hachimangu Shrine’s festival is called “shagiri” and has also been designated an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
The festival is held over two days, on the second Sunday in October and the preceding day. In 2024, it was held on Saturday, October 12, and Sunday, October 13.
On the first day, Saturday the 12th, the danjiri and sendairoku floats parade through their respective districts. On the second day, Sunday the 13th, the mikoshi procession and the danjiri and sendairoku floats departing from each district brought the shrine grounds to life with shagiri performances from morning until night.
![[Held October 12 (Sat.) and 13 (Sun.)] Grand Festival at Ko Hachimangu Shrine: Come see a lively festival featuring the district’s soul music, “shagiri,” and “danjiri” floats climbing steep slopes](https://media.kuratoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/23001229/DSCF7863.jpg)
A grand festival brought to life by shagiri and danjiri from morning until night
On the second day of the grand festival, I first went to the otabisho, where the shrine deity’s ceremony was held.
There are two otabisho: for the eastern route, Karakoto; for the western route, Kaminocho. In 2024, the western route was taken, so the ceremony was held at Kaminocho Community Hall in Kaminocho.
While the shrine deity travels between Ko Hachimangu Shrine and the district’s otabisho, danjiri and sendairoku floats from each district parade through their neighborhoods to the melodies of shagiri, making their way to the grounds of Ko Hachimangu Shrine.
Each district’s shagiri melodies have their own distinctive character, and the danjiri floats also differ in shape and size, making the sight of floats from each district lined up on the shrine grounds truly spectacular.
There are also performances unique to each district as the floats go up and down the steep slope of the main approach, so there is always something to watch.
Ko Hachimangu Shrine remained lively from 9:30 a.m., when the first danjiri began climbing the main approach, until around 8 p.m., when the last float had finished descending.
A grand festival where participants in happi coats are everywhere you look
What surprised me most when I went to the grand festival at Ko Hachimangu Shrine was that everywhere I looked, participants were wearing happi coats.
There are also major festivals in my native Tohoku region, such as the Nebuta Festival and the Kanto Festival. Unlike the grand festival at Ko Hachimangu Shrine, those festivals attract as many or more tourists than participants, and they also have paid viewing areas. The people putting on the festivals wear happi coats or costumes, but most tourists wear yukata or everyday clothes.
At Ko Hachimangu Shrine, most of the people lining up at the stalls along the main approach are wearing happi coats from their respective districts. The shrine grounds were also full of people playing shagiri or pulling danjiri floats, and those wearing happi coats were so numerous that people like me, attending in ordinary clothes, were a rarity.
However, even when people from outside the district like me watch the danjiri floats or enjoy the festival on the shrine grounds, local people warmly look out for us and make room where we can see the floats, so we can enjoy ourselves without feeling out of place.
I could truly feel that this is a festival held by local people for local people.
A grand festival enjoyed by children and adults, women and men alike
When you hear “danjiri,” Kishiwada City in Osaka Prefecture is probably the place that comes to mind nationwide.
It is said that the danjiri tradition that brings the grand festival at Ko Hachimangu Shrine to life also came from Kansai aboard the Kitamaebune ships. In Osaka, women are only allowed to pull danjiri until they turn 18, and adult women cannot pull them.
At the grand festival at Ko Hachimangu Shrine, however, people of all ages and genders work together to play shagiri and pull danjiri floats.
In particular, shagiri is passed down orally from adults in the district to children. Some districts have reportedly been practicing about three times a week since before summer vacation in preparation for the grand festival.
On the day of the annual festival, people from the district, young and old alike, encouraged one another and brought the festival to life with beaming smiles. Even babies carried in baby slings took part.
The participants from the Konishi district, who came up into the shrine grounds shortly after 3 p.m., said:
“We were able to make it safely up to the shrine grounds while putting the results of our daily practice to good use. It will be late on the way back, so there will be fewer people playing the shigiri and fewer people pulling the danjiri. We’ll stay focused until the end and make our way back to the Konishi district.”
She said with a smile.
Komoto Masaki, who serves as a negi (assistant priest) at Ko Hachimangu Shrine, also said:
“I’m relieved that we were able to hold the annual grand festival safely again this year. The performances and displays clearly show how much each district has practiced for today, and I’m glad to see the participants’ happy expressions. The festival isn’t over until everyone has returned to their district, so I hope it all ends safely, without anyone getting hurt.”
he said with a bright smile.
From the Writer
From morning until night, the melodies of the shagyari could be heard from every parish district of Ko Hachimangu Shrine. At the annual festival, people wearing their district’s happi coats enjoyed the day with their friends.
The smiles on participants’ faces that day were possible because they had practiced repeatedly in each district and strengthened their bonds with one another, all so they could enjoy the day to the fullest. It was the annual festival of Ko Hachimangu Shrine.
This is one of the traditional cultural practices that we hope will continue to be passed down from adults in the community to children.
Ko Hachimangu Shrine Annual Festival Information
| Name | Ko Hachimangu Shrine Annual Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, October 12, 2024 (times vary by district) and Sunday, October 13, 2024, around 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. |
| Location | 7-14-1 Shimonomachi, Kojima, Kurashiki City |
| Admission (tax included) | Free admission |
| Website | Ko Hachimangu Shrine |
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