I am a member of this community and used to take part in the festival every year when I was a child. The main rituals, duties, and the yama-daiko drum performance were carried out exclusively by men, so together with other girls, I followed the portable shrine, dancing as we paraded through the Tōko district. I loved playing musical instruments, and although I felt disappointed that I could not play the drums simply because I was a girl, I still felt proud to participate in such a historic local festival. 

My school teachers and local adults often told us, “The day after the festival marks the beginning of preparations for next year.” The festival was not something performed only in the days right before the event, but it was supported by many different rituals throughout the year. Each year, the people of Tenno and Funakoshi fulfilled and passed down their respective roles. Although my mother was not originally from this city, she used to say that the bonds within this community were far stronger than those in other places, and it was because of this festival. Maintaining these rituals and passing them on requires strong connections across generations and within the community.

Tōko Elementary School also played an important role in supporting the festival. Students learned about its history, conducted research, and created posters to share what they discovered. Most children enjoyed the festival with their families and friends, while some took on responsibilities in the event. After the festival, all students participated in the clean-up around the shrine. Growing up in the area, they gradually assumed more significant roles in the community's customs, and these childhood memories of contributing to local traditions strengthened their sense of belonging.

However, due to the rapidly declining population, the school was permanently closed in 2025. With the severe depopulation in this region, even this millennium-old tradition may face the risk of disappearing in the near future. In this situation, we must consider how we can preserve traditional performing arts for future generations.

Next year, I will leave Akita for work and will no longer live close to this community. Yet, through this digital archive project, I am truly proud to have contributed, even in a small way, to the preservation of our traditional festival.