Ōgaki Jūmangoku Matsuri

Overview

The Ogaki Jumangoku Matsuri is held in the city center (Ogaki Station Avenue) of Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, on the second Sunday of October each year. It is often called simply the "Jumangoku Festival." It is an urban festival centered on the local chamber of commerce, commemorating the history of the castle town of the 100,000-koku Ogaki domain.

History and Origins

The origin traces back to the annual festival of Tokiwa Shrine, the general shrine of Ogaki. From around the Taisho era, it was held as the "Ogaki Autumn Festival" in conjunction with the Tokiwa Shrine festival on September 25 each year, with floats (yama) and mikoshi paraded. However, it was interrupted due to the effects of the Pacific War and other causes. In 1956, after the war, this Ogaki Autumn Festival was revived as the "Jumangoku Festival" and has been carried on to the present. Mikoshi other than that of Tokiwa Shrine have been carried since 1973 under the name "Jumangoku Hometown Festival."

Highlights

Today mikoshi and parades are the main features. On the main venue of Ogaki Station Avenue, in addition to the Tokiwa Shrine mikoshi, children's and adults' mikoshi and "corporate mikoshi" created by Ogaki companies parade through. Parades by the wind band of Ogaki Commercial High School and youth groups, along with the "Jumangoku Odori" dance, enliven the festival. As the local chamber of commerce is central, local shops hold sales, candy markets, servings of local sake, and charity events, showing the bustle characteristic of a castle town. At Tokiwa Shrine, rituals and a mochi-throwing are held.

Event Information & Access

It is held on the second Sunday of October each year. The venue is the city center centered on Ogaki Station Avenue (Gifu Prefectural Route 57) in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture. The nearest station is Ogaki on the JR Tokaido Main Line and the Yoro Railway, and as the avenue in front of the station is the main venue, access is excellent.

Around the Venue

Ogaki City is a castle town rich in spring water, called the "City of Water," with Ogaki Castle rising in the city center. It is also known as the closing place of Matsuo Basho's "Oku no Hosomichi," and is home to the Oku no Hosomichi Musubi-no-chi Memorial Hall. One can enjoy the festival together with a walk touring the history of the castle town and its watery scenery.

Related Information

• Month: Second Sunday of October (autumn)
• Prefecture: Gifu (Chubu)
• Venue: City center centered on Ogaki Station Avenue (Ogaki City)
• Origin: Annual festival of Tokiwa Shrine (the Taisho-era "Ogaki Autumn Festival"), revived as the "Jumangoku Festival" in 1956
• Alias: Jumangoku Festival

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