Achi Shrine, which continues to watch over the Bikan Historical Area and the center of Kurashiki, holds various festivals throughout the seasons.
Among them, the "Autumn Grand Festival," held every October, features a large procession of portable shrines (mikoshi).
Another essential part of the Autumn Grand Festival is Suinkyo.
Suinkyo wears masks resembling an old man and an old woman, and is a particularly eye-catching presence who strikes the heads of passersby with a red fan. It is said that being struck on the head by Suinkyo brings wisdom, good fortune, and happy events.
In the 2024 Autumn Grand Festival, there will be a Suinkyo experience event.
Here, we will introduce the valuable Suinkyo experience that can only be enjoyed during this opportunity.
What is the "Suinkyo Experience"?
The Suinkyo experience will be held in conjunction with the Autumn Grand Festival at Achi Shrine on October 20, 2024 (Sunday).
Suinkyo wears masks of "old man" and "old woman," and on the day of the festival, walks around the town holding a red fan. They gently strike the heads of passersby with the red fan, spreading happiness.
In this "Suinkyo experience," participants will first learn about the history and culture of Suinkyo from the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society. After that, they will learn the movements of Suinkyo, don the costume and mask, and transform into Suinkyo to head to the Bikan Historical Area.
The experience of wishing for happiness and striking the heads of passersby with a fan is a rare opportunity that can only be enjoyed at this event.
The participation fee is 3,500 yen (including tax), and for international participants, an interpreter can accompany them as an option. For details on the schedule for the day, please check the reservation page of Takahashi River Travel. The capacity is 6 people, so those interested are encouraged to make reservations early.
About Suinkyo
The history of Suinkyo dates back to the early Edo period.
Long ago, an elderly couple could not participate in the local festival due to their age, so they asked a doll maker named Yanagihira Raku to create masks of "old man" and "old woman" to represent them. It is said that the young people wearing those masks participated in the festival on behalf of the elderly couple, marking the beginning of Suinkyo.
As time passed, the role of Suinkyo gradually changed.
In the Meiji period, Suinkyo served as a traffic guide for children approaching the portable shrine. They kept people away from the portable shrine to prevent accidents and injuries, and sometimes struck children with the fan to guide them.
Children struck would run away with the chant "Suinkyo, Suinkyo, cursed shallots," and sometimes even retaliate.
The interaction between Suinkyo and children may have been a unique feature of the festival.
Before long, Suinkyo became a beloved character among the residents, becoming a source of happiness. Today, they appear during the Spring Grand Festival and Autumn Grand Festival at Achi Shrine.
The Suinkyo experience is organized by Takahashigawa Travel, a local travel company that plans tours in Kurashiki City. They offer a variety of tours that convey the deep charm of Kurashiki.
We spoke with Yumi Yasuda from Takahashigawa Travel about the background of this event.
Interview with the Person in Charge
How was the Suinkyo experience planned?
Yasuda (no honorifics)
Since TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL is a travel company based in Kurashiki, we plan tours that allow people to enjoy "experiences that can only be done in Kurashiki."
The Suinkyo experience was inspired by an idea from our representative, Hara, who said, "Suinkyo is unique to Kurashiki." With the cooperation of the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society, this experience event was completed.
In fact, we held a trial Suinkyo experience during the Spring Grand Festival in May 2024. Participants enjoyed it very much, and I thought it would be great for more people to experience it.
When participating in a festival, people often think of carrying the portable shrine, but Suinkyo is a unique culture of Kurashiki, so I believe it truly is an "experience that can only be done in Kurashiki."
Additionally, our company has had a connection with the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society for some time, and every year during the festival, we provided a resting place for Suinkyo. I knew that the members of the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society were working hard on heritage and public relations activities, so I thought it would be great if this event could contribute even a little to the PR of Suinkyo.
What kind of reactions do people have when they meet Suinkyo?
Yasuda
Local people tend to know Suinkyo well, so many of them come forward and say, "Strike me!" and offer their heads. Tourists are often surprised at first, but after seeing others being struck, they also offer their heads.
In families, there are times when parents bring their children and say, "Please strike this child too." It’s a bit like a lion dance, where children are brought in crying and forced to be struck on the head.
Children's reactions vary; some run up shouting, "It's Suinkyo!" while others are scared by the appearance and cry just from getting close. Suinkyo does not strike children who are crying, instead using the fan gently to pat them.
I hear you also participated in the spring Suinkyo experience. What were your impressions?
Yasuda
I truly felt that being Suinkyo was an extraordinary experience.
Wearing the Suinkyo costume and the old man and old woman masks made me feel like I had become something other than myself. It was a lot of fun to strike various people with the fan and bring them good fortune, and I also felt very positive myself. It offers a sense of the extraordinary that cannot be experienced in daily life.
Another memorable aspect was the reactions of international tourists. Some people cannot be struck on the head due to religious reasons, so I realized it is important to respond carefully while observing their reactions.
Through the Suinkyo experience, how do you want people to enjoy Kurashiki?
Yasuda
Of course, I want people to enjoy the experience of "becoming Suinkyo and walking through the town," but I also think they can enjoy learning about Kurashiki's culture and history.
In this event, there will be time to learn about Suinkyo from the members of the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society.
How Suinkyo was born and how it has changed over time. And how traditions have been passed down. They will provide detailed explanations, so I believe there will be new discoveries, such as "This is what Kurashiki is like."
I hope everyone can fully enjoy the culture of Suinkyo, which can only be experienced in Kurashiki.
What kind of people would you like to participate?
Yasuda
I would like to recommend this experience not only to tourists but also to residents of Kurashiki.
I also hope that international participants will experience it. I think it would be fun to have cultural exchanges between overseas and Japan, so I would like to do the Suinkyo experience together and share our impressions.
For those who have been struck or chased by Suinkyo in their childhood, it might be interesting to become Suinkyo themselves this time.
By the way, the current secretary-general of the Kurashiki Suinkyo Preservation Society also has a trauma from being chased by Suinkyo in childhood!
Finally, please give a message to the readers.
Yasuda
For those who have lived in Kurashiki for a long time and have been chased by the "suginko" (a traditional character) as children, I hope you will become a suginko this time and create memories that will remain in the children's minds.
Also, I think there are people in Kurashiki City who do not know about the suginko, so please take this opportunity to experience the festival at Achi Shrine.
Let's liven up the festival together! We look forward to your applications.
Conclusion
Actually, I also participated in the suginko experience held in May 2024.
When I walked around the town as a suginko, I felt that the people I passed by interacted with me without caution, and I realized that the suginko is a rooted presence in the community. It was certainly enjoyable to interact with many people, and it felt good to wish for others' happiness.
The members of the Kurashiki Suginko Preservation Society seem to appear at various festivals throughout the city. I have also encountered a suginko at the 2024 Mabi and Funao Grand Dance venue. Just meeting them felt like a blessing.
The suginko, which has been loved in Kurashiki for many years, is a traditional experience that you can try for just one day. Why not give it a go?
Suginko Experience Data
| Name | Suginko Experience |
|---|---|
| Date | October 20, 2024 (Sunday) From 1:00 PM to around 4:10 PM |
| Location | 2-5-1 Tsurugata, Kurashiki City |
| Website | TAKAHASHIGAWA TRAVEL |
