Tsuzureko Ōdaiko
綴子大太鼓
"visually and audibly powerful and exciting."
―Urara Sasaki
"visually and audibly powerful and exciting."
―Urara Sasaki
The Tsuzureko Odaiko Festival is a festival of Tsuzureko in Kitaakita City, said to have begun around 700 years ago. At that time, Tsuzureko Village constantly suffered from a shortage of irrigation water. It is said that the large drum event began as a rain-praying ritual. The loud sound of the drums, resembling thunder, was used to pray to the gods in the sky for rain and a rich harvest.
It is said that the early drums were about 70 cm in diameter, but over time they grew larger and larger. This is thought to be due to the competitive pride among the neighboring villages participating in the festival.
The festival's most distinctive feature is its massive drum, certified by Guinness as the “world's largest Japanese drum made from a single cowhide,” measuring approximately 3.8 meters in diameter and weighing about 2 tons.
The giant drum and parade procession march through Tsuzureko's downtown area. Led by the master of ceremonies and practitioners of a staff-fighting art called “Yatsupare,” the procession marches toward Tsuzureko Shrine, beating multiple large drums as they go. The procession participants wear colorful Japanese attire, carrying sticks and flags as they march in distinctive rhythmic movements. Three people beat each large drum, accompanied by the playing of festival music.
Upon arriving at Tsuzuriko Shrine, the “Yudachi Shinto Ritual” is performed to predict the year’s rice harvest. Following this, dedicated performances such as the vigorous lion dance and Yakko dance take place.
[Japanese Only]
[Japanese only]
[Japanese Only]
I never got to see the festival itself, but I did visit the Odaiko Museum in Kitaakita City. While drums from around the world were on display there, the sheer power of the world's largest drum was overwhelming. Its size was hard to believe it was made from a single cowhide, and I could only imagine how deep and resonant its sound must be.
I watched various videos of the festival and, as expected, was captivated by the presence of the giant drum. Furthermore, the performers' serious expressions and movements were also striking. The motions of playing the giant drum and the procession's walking style conveyed a sense of long-established form and discipline. It was not just individual skill that stood out, but also the collective unity of the group. The vibrantly colored procession and the massive drum parading through the town are visually and audibly powerful and exciting.
Akita Folk Performing Arts Archives. (n.d.). Tsuzureko Odaiko. https://www.akita-minzoku-geino.jp/archives/ja/3152/
AKT秋田テレビ(公式 ニュース) [AKT Akita Television (Official News)]. (2019). 大きさ世界一!豊作祈願の綴子大太鼓祭り 秋田・北秋田市 (19/07/15 19:10) [World's Largest! Tsuzureko Odaiko Festival for Praying for a Bountiful Harvest Kitaakita City, Akita Prefecture] [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9L2ETu3DXI
Kitaakita City. (2025). 令和7年 八幡宮綴子神社例大祭 [2025 Hachiman Shrine Tsuzureko Shrine Festival]. https://www.city.kitaakita.akita.jp/archive/p20250714103418
Kitaakita City. (2006). 大太鼓祭りの由来 [The Origin of the Odaiko Festival]. https://www.city.kitaakita.akita.jp/archive/p11176
田舎暮らしK [K living in the countryside]. (2025). “綴子神社例大祭 ” (世界一大太鼓)《北秋田市》【LUMIX S1II】JAPAN🇯🇵 ["Tsuzureko Shrine Festival” (World's Largest Drum)《Kitaakita city》【LUMIX S1II】JAPAN🇯🇵] [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQUFce9MOLo
田舎暮らしK [K living in the countryside]. (2025). “綴子神社例大祭 (子ども奉納演舞)” (世界一の大太鼓)《北秋田市》【LUMIX S1II】JAPAN🇯🇵 ["Tsuzureko Shrine Festival” (Children's Dedicatory Dance Performance)《Kitaakita city》【LUMIX S1II】JAPAN🇯🇵] [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/fyxA_BHYCgU?si=iSCGCeAppIscGeTd