Ishidori Matsuri

Overview

The Kuwana Ishidori Festival is a summer festival held at Kuwana Sōsha (commonly known as Kasuga Shrine) in Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture. It takes place annually on the first Saturday and Sunday of August, with the Saturday designated as Shingaku (preliminary day) and the Sunday as Hongaku (main day). During the festival, a total of 43 festival floats from 43 neighborhood associations within the city gather together, parading through the streets while loudly beating gongs and drums. This festival is known nationwide as "Japan's Noisiest Festival" and was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan on March 7, 2007, under the name "Kuwana Ishidori Festival Float Event."

The origin of this festival lies in the summer purification ritual of visiting the Machiya River (Inabe River) in the southern suburbs of Kuwana City. Participants would purify themselves in the clear stream, collect clean pebbles, and offer them to Kuwana Sōsha to cleanse the sacred grounds. This ritual eventually developed into a full-fledged festival, with records of stone collection already existing from the Keichō era (1596–1615) of the early Edo period. On December 1, 2016, it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as part of the "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, Float Festivals," a group of 33 events from across Japan, gaining international recognition.

History and Origin

The origin of the Ishidori Festival can be traced to a single ritual within the early Kuwana Festival (Hiyori Festival), the grand festival of Kuwana Sōsha. The name "Hiyori" is said to have originated from the sound of flutes played by participants as they went to the Machiya River in the southern suburbs of Kuwana City to select stones, singing "Hyōri Hyōri" along the way. According to one theory, the sound of the flute gradually transformed into "Hiyori," leading to the name "Hiyori Festival." The Hiyori Festival was a composite event that included the stone collection ritual, the yabusame (horseback archery) ritual, and the nerimono (procession) ritual, with multiple theories regarding its exact origins.

When stones were transported from the Machiya River to Kuwana Sōsha, they were initially carried on small carts. Over time, people began to beat drums and gongs to accompany the procession, which became the origin of the festival floats. As the Edo, Meiji, Taishō, and Shōwa periods progressed, the floats gradually became larger and more ornate. During the Hōreki era (1750s), the stone collection ritual, which had been one part of the Hiyori Festival, became independent, forming the basis of the current Ishidori Festival. This independence established the parade of festival floats as the central event of the celebration.

The Kuwana air raid of 1945 (Shōwa 20) caused extensive damage, with many festival floats being destroyed by fire. However, soon after the war, the citizens of Kuwana, who deeply loved the festival, worked together to build new floats one after another, leading to the festival's revival. Floats that were no longer used in Kuwana were sold or transferred to surrounding areas such as the Hokusei region and the Owari region of Aichi Prefecture, where Ishidori events are still held today. Thus, the history of the Ishidori Festival is a history of "floats and people," serving as a symbol of community solidarity.

In 1981 (Shōwa 56), the festival was designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Mie Prefecture, and in 2007 (Heisei 19), it was designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan under the name "Kuwana Ishidori Festival Float Event." Furthermore, in 2016 (Heisei 28), it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage as part of the "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, Float Festivals," gaining international recognition for its cultural value. In 2020 (Reiwa 2) and 2021 (Reiwa 3), due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the parade of floats was cancelled, and only a portion of the rituals were performed.

Highlights

Tataki-dashi (Opening Ceremony) At midnight on the day of Shingaku (the first Saturday of August), the chief priest of Kasuga Shrine strikes the sacred drum in front of the shrine, signaling all neighborhood floats to begin beating their gongs and drums simultaneously. This "Tataki-dashi" marks the official start of the festival, and there is a strict rule that any float starting even a moment early will be banned from participating the following year. The scene is described as exceptionally brave and powerful, as citizens who have been eagerly awaiting the festival for a year are suddenly enveloped in a wave of excitement and energy.

Tosai (Procession to the Shrine) On the evening of Hongaku (the first Sunday of August), the "Tosai" ceremony takes place, where all festival floats, in order, parade in front of the main gate of Kasuga Shrine while beating gongs and drums. The first float, called the Hanaguruma, departs from Kyōmachi intersection at 4:30 PM, and the Tosai ceremony begins at 6:30 PM. This is the climax of the festival, where each neighborhood competes with pride in their musical performance, overwhelming spectators with its sheer power and intensity.

Festival Floats (Saisha) The festival floats of the Ishidori Festival feature a distinctive three-wheeled structure and are decorated with twelve paper lanterns arranged in a mountain shape on the upper section. These twelve lanterns are said to represent one year and two months, according to tradition. Some floats adopt figure or house-shaped styles, with each neighborhood applying its own unique decorations. Nationwide, it is extremely rare for a single shrine and a single ritual to gather as many as 43 floats in one place, making the spectacular sight a captivating attraction for visitors.

Ishidori Music (Hayashi) A defining feature of the Ishidori Festival is its unique musical accompaniment, performed using one large drum with a diameter of two to three shaku (approximately 60 to 90 cm) and four to six gongs with a diameter of about one shaku three sun (approximately 39 cm). The music is broadly divided into "Itsutsu-byōshi" (five-beat rhythm) and "Nanatsu-byōshi" (seven-beat rhythm), and people of all ages and genders participate in playing it. This music resonates through the streets day and night, giving rise to the festival's reputation as "Japan's Noisiest Festival."

Kenseki Kagura (Stone Offering Ceremony) At 10:00 AM on the day of Shingaku, neighborhood officials gather at the main hall of Kuwana Sōsha to offer the pebbles collected from the Machiya River to the gods in a ceremony called Kenseki Kagura. These stones have been offered for hundreds of years, and it is said that the number of stones never increases, which is considered a divine mystery. This ritual preserves the original purification aspect of the Ishidori Festival, passing down an important element of its tradition to the present day.

Hikiwakare (Farewell Procession) Around 9:00 PM, after the Tosai ceremony on Hongaku concludes, the floats begin to disband one by one and return to their respective neighborhoods in a ceremony called Hikiwakare. This farewell procession marks the bittersweet end of the festival, as people from each neighborhood gather around their float to enjoy the final moments of music. During this time, while the excitement of the festival still lingers, anticipation for the following year begins to build anew.

Event Information and Access

1. Dates: Every year, the first Saturday of August (Shingaku) and the first Sunday of August (Hongaku), together with the Tataki-dashi opening on the preceding day. For the latest schedule and confirmation of events, please check the official website of the Kuwana Ishidori Festival Preservation Society or the Kuwana City Tourism Association.
2. Venue: Kuwana Sōsha (Kasuga Shrine) and the surrounding city center of Kuwana. Address: Honmachi, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture.
3. Access (Train): Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Kuwana Station on the JR Kansai Main Line and Kintetsu Nagoya Line. Also approximately 10 minutes on foot from Kuwana Station on the Yōrō Railway.
4. Access (Car): Approximately 10 minutes from the Kuwana IC or Kuwana Higashi IC on the Higashi-Meihan Expressway. Temporary parking lots may be available in the area, but spaces are limited, so the use of public transportation is recommended.
5. Inquiries: Kuwana Sōsha. Alternatively, the Kuwana City Tourism Section.
6. Confirmation of Latest Information: Event details may change due to the impact of COVID-19 or other factors. For the most up-to-date information on schedules and whether the event will be held, please check the official Kuwana Ishidori Festival website (kuwana-ishidori.com) or the official Kuwana Sōsha website (kuwanasousha.org).

Surrounding Area Information

Kuwana City is a central city in the Hokusei region of Mie Prefecture, rich in historical tourist resources. Near Kuwana Sōsha is the site of Kuwana Castle (Kyūka Park), a park built on the grounds of the castle that once served as the residence of the lords of the Kuwana domain during the Edo period, now a popular relaxation spot for citizens. The site of the Shichiri no Watashi ferry crossing is also a notable location that evokes the history of Kuwana as a thriving post town on the Tōkaidō road, and it attracts many tourists during the Ishidori Festival period.

Kuwana City is also known for its local specialties, such as dishes made with "hamaguri" clams and "Yasunaga mochi" (a type of sweet rice cake). During the Ishidori Festival, many food stalls are set up, allowing visitors to enjoy local cuisine. Additionally, the neighboring Nagashima Town features large leisure facilities such as Nagashima Spa Land and Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima, which can be enjoyed in combination with the festival.

As for cultural facilities in Kuwana City, the Kuwana City Museum displays materials related to the Ishidori Festival and other historical exhibits. Kuwana Sōsha itself is a historic shrine that was established by invitation from Kasuga-taisha in Nara, and its grounds contain buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. By visiting these cultural facilities in conjunction with the Ishidori Festival, one can gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Kuwana.

Related Information

1. Kuwana Ishidori Festival Float Event: Designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan on March 7, 2007, under the name "Kuwana Ishidori Festival Float Event."
2. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Registered on December 1, 2016, at the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of the "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, Float Festivals," a group of 33 events from across Japan.
3. Spread to Surrounding Areas: The Ishidori Festival has spread to the surrounding Hokusei region of Mie Prefecture and the Owari region of Aichi Prefecture, where Ishidori events are still held today. Notable examples include the Torii Shrine in Tomida, Yokkaichi City; the Sumiyoshi Shrine in Amagasuka, Yokkaichi City; and the Kanbe Sōsha in Kanbe, Suzuka City.
4. Kuwana Ishidori Festival Preservation Society: An organization established to preserve and pass down the festival. It plays a vital role in maintaining the festival, including the repair and construction of floats and the transmission of musical traditions.
5. Related Materials: The Kuwana City Museum displays historical documents, photographs, and models of festival floats related to the Ishidori Festival. Detailed information on the festival's history and events is also available on the official website.
6. Festival Terminology: "Shingaku" refers to the preliminary day's events, "Hongaku" to the main day's events, "Tosai" to the ceremonial visit to Kasuga Shrine, "Tataki-dashi" to the opening ceremony that marks the start of the festival, and "Hikiwakare" to the farewell procession after the festival concludes.

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