F E S T I V A L ／ FEST-183

Mononobe Shrine Hosha-sai (Archery Festival)

物部神社 奉射祭もののべじんじゃ ほうしゃさい

Held every January 7 at Mononobe Shrine, the first-ranked shrine (ichinomiya) of the old Iwami Province, the Hosha-sai is a New Year archery rite. A roughly one-meter target is hung over the approach, inscribed with the single character 'oni' (demon) standing for all the calamities of the world. Archers dressed in the archaic eboshi cap and hitatare robe loose their arrows into this demon target to drive off evil and pray for a year of good health and peace. Following the formal rite, local archery clubs and enthusiasts — including junior and senior high school students — perform their ceremonial first shooting of the year, joining ancient ritual with living archery culture at this martial shrine.