F E S T I V A L ／ FEST-157
weird
Kizakai Ōmonoimi Shrine Insect-Repelling Rite
木境大物忌神社の虫除け祭りきざかいおおものいみじんじゃのむしよけまつり
D A T E2026-07-08
An insect-repelling rite combining Shugendō asceticism and rice-pest exorcism, held in July at Kizakai Ōmonoimi Shrine in Yashima-machi, Yurihonjō City, Akita. Akita Prefectural Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Priests perform secret rites on a small boat (mushibune) that confines the year's pests; together with a lion vanguard, the boat is carried roughly 15 km across the land and finally launched onto the Koyoshi River to expel the pests. A leading example from the snow-country Japan-Sea side of Tōhoku.
H I G H L I G H T S
Highlights
- 01Akita Prefectural Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property
- 02Insect-repelling rite of the Mt. Chōkai Shugendō tradition
- 03A small boat (mushibune) sealed by a secret pest-confinement rite
- 04Carried roughly 15 km accompanied by a shishi (lion) vanguard
- 05Long-distance river-sending rite ending on the Koyoshi River
D E E P D I V E