Otabi Festival

Overview

The Otabi Matsuri is the spring grand festival of Uhashashi Shrine and Honori Hiyoshi Shrine in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, held annually from May 8 to May 10. This festival is widely known as a symbol of Komatsu, the town of Kabuki, where children perform kabuki on elaborately decorated floats called hikiyama. The event is considered one of the three major festivals of the Hokuriku region.

The festival takes place throughout central Komatsu City, with eight hikiyama parading through the streets. The sight of these magnificent floats, inherited from the Edo period, showcases the essence of merchant culture. The portable shrines, or mikoshi, parading through the neighborhoods, along with the illuminated floats and children performing kabuki at night, create an atmosphere of intense excitement among spectators.

History and Origins

The origins of the Otabi Matsuri date back to the mid-17th century, when Maeda Toshitsune, the third lord of the Kaga domain, retired to Komatsu Castle. Toshitsune moved to Komatsu with many retainers, merchants, and craftsmen, forming a castle town. During that time, the portable shrines of Uhashashi Shrine and Honori Hiyoshi Shrine were carried to the castle for rituals, which is considered the beginning of the festival.

According to the Komatsu Kyuki, a historical record from the Keian era (1651), both shrines mikoshi were brought inside the castle to pray for the peace of the three provinces of Kaga, Etchu, and Echigo. The term otabi, meaning a journey, was used because the mikoshi traveled through the neighborhoods of parishioners, and it eventually became the festival name. Initially, the mikoshi only went to the castle gate, but from 1730, they began visiting the homes of parishioners as well.

In 1766, silk merchants from Komatsu, inspired by the Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Hikiyama Festival in Nagahama, Omi Province, started performing kabuki on floats in Komatsu. These merchants, who grew wealthy from the production of Kaga silk, encountered the float culture of Nagahama during their business trips to Kyoto and brought it back to Komatsu. Since then, children kabuki on hikiyama has been passed down for over 250 years.

The current magnificent elevated-style floats are believed to have been completed between the Kansei and Bunka eras, from the late 18th to early 19th century. Originally, there were ten floats, but two were lost in major fires during the Showa period. Today, eight floats remain. These eight floats are designated as Komatsu City Cultural Properties, and the hikiyama event of the Otabi Matsuri is designated as an Ishikawa Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Highlights

Children Kabuki on Hikiyama The main attraction of the Otabi Matsuri is the children kabuki performed on floats decorated with lacquer and gold leaf. This art form was started by silk merchants from Komatsu who modeled it after festivals in Kyoto and Nagahama, and the floats themselves can be described as works of art. The sight of girls in full costume and makeup performing passionately on the floats deeply moves the audience.

Hikiyama Parade On the evening of May 9, the second day of the festival, all eight floats gather at the Saikumachi intersection for the Hikiyama Parade. The event is divided into daytime and evening sessions, with the night session featuring illuminated floats that create a fantastical atmosphere. This spectacular scene captivates many tourists and is the highlight of the festival.

Mikoshi Procession Both shrines mikoshi date back to the Edo period and are designated as Komatsu City Cultural Properties. The mikoshi of Uhashashi Shrine parades through the Kihoku area on Sunday, while the mikoshi of Honori Hiyoshi Shrine parades through the Kihan area on both Saturday and Sunday. It is rare for both mikoshi to meet, but it may happen at the Saikumachi intersection approximately once every two years, with such an encounter considered very lucky.

Children Lion Dance During the mikoshi procession, children from each neighborhood perform lion dances to enliven the festival. About ten neighborhoods from each of the Kihoku and Kihan areas participate annually. Generally, girls play the roles of kabuki actors on the floats, while boys support the festival through lion dances, flute playing, and drumming. There is a belief that having your head bitten by the lion brings good health for a year, making it popular among visitors.

Boundary Between Kihoku and Kihan The Kyuryobashi River that flows through Komatsu City divides the area into Kihoku on the north side and Kihan on the south side. In the past, the mikoshi and floats of the two shrines never crossed this river, each staying within their own parish areas. In 1990, as part of the citys 50th anniversary celebration, five floats from Kihan crossed the river for the first time, and since then, both areas have cooperated in carrying out the festival.

Otabi de Marche and Street Stalls The Otabi de Marche is held at the Citizen Park near Komatsu Station, offering local food and goods. Traditional street stalls also line the approach to Uhashashi Shrine, creating a festive atmosphere from the station area to the shrine grounds. Walking around and visiting the various stalls is another major attraction of the Otabi Matsuri.

Event Information and Access

1. Event Period: Held annually from May 8 to 10. Check the official website for the latest schedule and confirmation.
2. Venue: Central Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture, including Uhashashi Shrine, Honori Hiyoshi Shrine, and the Saikumachi intersection area
3. Access: Approximately 7 to 10 minutes on foot from Komatsu Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line. The main venue, Saikumachi intersection, is within walking distance from the station
4. Parking: Multiple parking lots are available around the area, including Komatsu Station West Multi-story Parking, Komatsu Station South Parking, and Mikkaichi Multi-story Parking. Traffic regulations are enforced around Saikumachi intersection from 11:00 to 22:30 on May 9, so using public transportation is recommended
5. Admission: Free. The hikiyama parade and children kabuki performances can be enjoyed for free
6. Contact: Komatsu City Tourism Exchange Division, Otabi Matsuri dedicated line at 0761-24-8195. Latest information is available on the official website and city homepage.

Surrounding Area Information

The area around Komatsu Station has many restaurants and souvenir shops, suitable for a visit during the festival. The shopping street extending from the station offers local crafts and dishes using Kaga vegetables. The Yokkaichi shopping street sometimes opens a market during the festival period, allowing visitors to enjoy a walk while viewing the hikiyama parade.

Komatsu City is known as the Town of Kabuki, and various cultural facilities related to kabuki are scattered throughout the area. The Komatsu Arts Theater and Komatsu City Museum hold exhibitions where visitors can learn about the history of the floats and the festival. Komatsu Castle ruins, where Maeda Toshitsune lived in retirement, are worth visiting for a deeper understanding of the festivals history.

The area is also close to the Kaga Onsen hot spring resorts and Yamanaka Onsen, and many tourists combine festival sightseeing with hot spring accommodation. With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, access from Tokyo and Osaka has greatly improved, making day trips feasible. Hotels and inns around the station often fill up early during the festival, so early reservations are recommended.

Related Information

1. Cultural Properties: The eight existing hikiyama floats are designated as Komatsu City Cultural Properties, and the hikiyama event of the Otabi Matsuri is designated as an Ishikawa Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property
2. Three Major Festivals of Hokuriku: According to information from Uhashashi Shrine, the Otabi Matsuri is considered one of the three major festivals of the Hokuriku region. The children kabuki on floats is also regarded as one of the three major children kabuki events in Japan, alongside Chichibu and Nagahama
3. Number of Floats: Originally ten floats existed, but two were lost in major fires during the Showa period. Currently, eight floats are owned by eight neighborhoods: Kyomachi, Nakamachi, Zaimokucho, Nishimachi, Ryusukecho, Yokkaichimachi, Daimonjicho, and Teramachi
4. Characteristics of Children Kabuki: Girls mainly perform as kabuki actors, while boys take on roles in the lion dance. The performances are supported by young townspeople, narrators of gidayu music, and shamisen players
5. Similar Festivals: The Nagahama Hikiyama Festival of Omi Province is said to have influenced the origins of the Otabi Matsuri, and both share similarities in float structure and the format of children kabuki
6. Latest Information Sources: Contact the Komatsu City Tourism Exchange Division at 0761-24-8195 or visit the official tourism website of Komatsu City and the dedicated website for the Otabi Matsuri at komatsuguide.jp for the most current information

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