Tsukuno Danjiri Matsuri

What Is the Tsukuno Danjiri Matsuri?

The Tsukuno Danjiri Matsuri is a danjiri festival held each autumn around Tsukuno in Nishi Ward, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. Known as a spirited autumn festival distinctive to the Senshū area of Osaka, in which massive wooden "danjiri" (festival floats) are pulled around at high speed by many pullers to spirited calls, it is a lively festival in which each neighborhood's danjiri processes through the area, with the vigorous turning of the yarimawashi as its highlight.

History and Origins

The danjiri festival is a festival of gratitude for the autumn harvest, long flourishing chiefly in the Senshū area of southern Osaka. The "danjiri" made famous nationwide by the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri are gorgeous wooden floats with intricate carvings, carefully protected and handed down by each neighborhood as a source of local pride. The Tsukuno Danjiri Matsuri, too, inherits this Senshū danjiri culture, and has been carried out by the whole town as the festival of the local shrine. The carvings on the danjiri take historical tales and battle scenes as their subjects and are also works of art that gather the finest of artisanship.

Highlights

The greatest attraction is the yarimawashi, in which the danjiri are pulled at high speed and turned sharply all at once at intersections and the like. The sight of danjiri weighing several tons rounding a corner while maintaining their momentum is full of intensity and thrills spectators. The well-coordinated teamwork of the pullers and the figures of the daikugata dancing splendidly atop the roofs are also highlights. The beauty of the intricate carvings on the danjiri and the lively music played by the flutes, drums, and gongs greatly enliven the festival. Visitors can experience an autumn festival full of fervor, with the whole community as one.

When It Takes Place

The festival is typically held in autumn (October) around Tsukuno in Nishi Ward, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. As an autumn festival, its season is autumn. Because the pulling routes and dates of the danjiri vary from year to year, visitors are advised to confirm details in advance through official announcements from Sakai City and the local festival-related organizations. For safety during the pulling, it is important to follow instructions when viewing.

Access

The area around Tsukuno enjoys good access, within walking distance of Tsukuno Station on the JR Hanwa Line. It can be accessed via the JR Hanwa Line from the directions of Osaka City and Wakayama. As traffic restrictions are imposed in the area during the festival, public transport is recommended. Viewing areas may be limited in accordance with the pulling of the danjiri.

Around the Area

Sakai is a historic city that prospered as a trading port in the medieval period and is known for the culture of the tea ceremony (Sen no Rikyū) and traditional industries such as cutlery and incense. Highlights include the World Heritage Mozu Tombs (including the tomb of Emperor Nintoku) and historic places associated with Sen no Rikyū and Yosano Akiko. Close to central Osaka, access is also good. As danjiri festivals flourish throughout the Senshū area, one can also tour the festivals of various neighborhoods in autumn. Together with the Tsukuno Danjiri Matsuri, it is an area where one can savor the history of Sakai and the festival culture of Senshū.

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