Narayama no Kashima Matsuri
楢山の鹿嶋祭
"Feel the wishes of the local people that have been inherited for a long time ago from the sound of demons' coming footsteps and the sight of boats drifting down the river."
-Nana Arakaki
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Historical Background
Narayama no Kashima Matsuri has been held on the 23rd day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. Now, it is conducted on the first Sunday of July. This event is held in the area formerly known as Mifune-machi (Oimawari-machi) within Narayama Noborimachi. During the feudal era, the Kashima event was performed in many districts of Kubota Castle Town (central Akita City in the present day), but today it is only preserved in Mifune-machi within this area. Narayama has long enshrined Kashima Shrine, which was built around the 10th year of the Meiji era. The Kashima Festival is held as the annual festival of Kashima Shrine.
(Komatsu, 2018)
Characteristics
At the Kashima Festival, a boat-shaped float called the “Kashima Boat” carries a sacred chamber (mimuro) and a large doll at its stern. In addition, Kashima dolls about one shaku (approximately 30 cm) tall are displayed as the float parades through the town. In front of the boat float, people dressed as demons, acting as exorcists, go to each house to perform purification rituals. The matsuri musicians follow behind the boat float, beating the large and small drums set up at the rear of the boat in time with the float's pace. Flutes also play along. This style of flute is said to be the prototype of the kanto festival music! After the procession ends, the boat float is carried to the river and floated away. Only one piece of music is performed.
(Komatsu, 2018)
To know more
The video of Narayama Kashima matsuri (Japanese title)
-Kashima doll contest-
(izumimi, 2023)
I could only find 1 video. Here is an alternative webpage that might be useful.
⇩Where is the Kashima shrine?
Direct Voice from Nana Arakaki
I had never heard of Narayama no Kashima Matsuri until I researched it for this digital archives project. When I saw the video, I felt the wishes of the local people, which have been passed down for a long time, from the sound of demons' footsteps coming to each house and the sight of boats drifting down the river. Every local person seems to be actively engaged in the festival and communicates with each other. Currently, due to the rapid development of digital technology, direct communication between people may decline. However, the festival will be a good opportunity to enhance those interactions among them. They will have some common hope for their peace or health. The desire for peace and health has never changed. It is deeply moving to see this tradition continue to this day, embodied in the form of a festival.
References
Akita Folk Performing Arts Archives. (2023). Narayama no Kashima Matsuri [Narayama Kashima Festival]. https://www.akita-minzoku-geino.jp/archives/ja/4072/
Akita o Tabishitai. (2023, October 7). Narayama no Kashima Jinja (Akita-ken Akita-shi) [Kashima Shrine in Narayama (Akita City, Akita Prefecture)]. https://murabitosonoiti.hatenablog.com/entry/2023/10/08/050000
Kawabata, T. (2022, November 12). Gahaku wa Kashima Jinja no ikigamisama: Narayama Mifune-cho [The artist is the living god of Kashima Shrine: Narayama Mifune-cho]. 20-seiki Blog. https://20century.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-455.html
Komatsu, K. (2023a, September 22). Oraho no Kashima o daburu shuzai! Narayama, Taihei no Kashima gyoji (jo) [Double coverage of our local Kashima! Kashima events in Narayama and Taihei (Part 1)]. Akita Ningyo Dosojin. https://dosojin.jp/blog/18351/
Komatsu, K. (2023b, October 24). Doga-tsuki: Oraho no Kashima o daburu shuzai! Narayama, Taihei no Kashima gyoji (ge) [With video: Double coverage of our local Kashima! Kashima events in Narayama and Taihei (Part 2)]. Akita Ningyo Dosojin. https://dosojin.jp/blog/18452/
Tabisuru Market e no Michi. (2023, July 7). Kashima no natsu: Hatsu sanka [First participation in Kashima's summer]. https://nakamarket.jugem.jp/?eid=1149
By Nana Arakaki
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