Historical Background

This shrine was built in the current location in 1675. It is said that this shrine was formed from the merging of the enshrine deity of the old Shinmeisha shrine with the deity that Uwadaira part of the Nagakura line, worshiped since the Hitachi period. Amaterasu-ōmikami is the main goddess worshiped here, and she has gained the faith of Odate locals here. The current shrine building was built in 1876. The Omikoshi portable shrine was made in 1874 after locals dedicated 5% of their earnings each month for 3 years to finance the construction. During festivals held during the Meiji period, the Omikoshi was led by long spears or yama floats that represented nature, but nowadays, the Omikoshi, modeled after the kagura hall and carried from the 4 corners of the karahafu gabled roof, is paraded along streets with Odate festival music and dances performed on top of the Omikoshi. 

Characteristics

This is a festival of Odate Shinmeisha Shrine, which has been held for more than 400 years in Odate, Akita Prefecture. The Odate Shinmeisha Festival is the city's representative autumn festival, held over the two days of September 10 (Yomatsuri) and 11 (Honsai) every year, centered on Omachi-dori Street.

The festival features a parade of the portable shrine of Odate Shinmeisha called Yama, and the pulling of Yama more than one ton, which are the pride of the various classes, through the streets crowded with stalls. The festival is characterized by the competition for bravery, and the Odate-bayashi (festival music) performed on the Yama has been handed down as a traditional art form.