Tsurumi no Tamatsuri

Overview

Tsurumi no Tamatsuri is a folk performing art held annually on April 29 at Tsurumi Shrine in Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It is considered the oldest folk performing art in the Yokohama city area, with traditions said to date back to the Kamakura period (1185–1333). The festival is a yoshuku (pre-celebration) event that enacts a sequence of rice cultivation processes, from spring plowing to autumn harvest, praying for abundant grain harvests and prosperous offspring. The performers use farming tools such as hoes and sickles while chanting the Kamihogi-uta (divine praise song).

The festival was revived in 1987 after approximately 115 years of discontinuation, and is currently preserved and passed down by the Tsurumi Tamatsuri Preservation Society. In 2017, Tsurumi no Tamatsuri was registered as a Yokohama City Registered Regional Cultural Property (Regional Intangible Folk Cultural Property), and the preservation society received the 37th Traditional Culture Polar Award Regional Prize in the same year. The festival has undergone a trajectory of extinction during the Meiji Restoration period and revival in the late Showa period, bridging traditions from the Kamakura period to the present day.

History and Origins

The origins of Tsurumi no Tamatsuri are believed to trace back to the Kamakura period. The late Edo period gazetteer "Shinpen Musashi Fudoki Ko" records the event as an archaic "Myojin no Tamatsuri Uta" (Shrine Deity Rice Planting Song) held at Sugiyama Myojin on the evening of January 16 every year. In ancient times, twelve villagers would gather at the shrine to chant songs in unison and perform various rituals. Three families from old Tsurumi Village, including the Sakuma and Shiota families who served as village headmen (nanushi), took turns serving as the host household (shinji-yado) to prepare and direct the ritual procedures.

Under the wave of civilization and enlightenment following the Meiji Restoration, Tsurumi no Tamatsuri was abolished by prefectural decree in 1871, marking its final performance for over a century. According to preservation society materials, the abolition was motivated by a desire to avoid exposure to Western eyes following the opening of Yokohama Port and the arrival of railways. There is also a tradition that the festival was banned because the concluding performances were considered obscene, though no records have been confirmed to substantiate this claim. This led to approximately 120 years during which the festival ceased to exist.

In around 1950, shortly after World War II, Kaneko Motoshige, who would later become the chief priest of Tsurumi Shrine, heard from local elders about a rice planting dance and Kamihogi-uta event called "Neeren Matsuri" at Tsurumi Shrine, which inspired him to pursue its revival. Around 1975, the "Sugiyama Shrine Kamihogi-uta" was discovered at the home of the Sakuma family, former village headmen of old Tsurumi Village. Additionally, a handwritten document titled "Chigusa" detailing the rice planting festival was found at the residence of the third-generation chief priest Kurokawa Sozo's descendants. Following these discoveries, further investigations and material collections from storehouses of old families in the former Tsurumi Village area were conducted. In the spring of 1983, Chief Priest Kaneko commissioned the Tsurumi History Society to research the festival, and a Tamatsuri Research Subcommittee was established.

On July 17, 1986, the Tsurumi Tamatsuri Preservation Society was established, and the festival was publicly presented for the first time on November 22 of the same year at Tsurumi Public Hall. The research committee examined historical documents and "Chigusa" to reconstruct the Kamihogi-uta lyrics, ritual procedures, tools, and movements. For the Kamihogi-uta lyrics, the committee compared several sources including Tsurumi Shrine's "Sugiyama Daimyojin Gojitsureki," Kurokawa Harumura's "Sugiyama Shrine Kamihogi-uta Shaku," and the Sakuma family document "Chinju Sugiyama Daimyojin Sairei Uta," primarily organizing them based on the "Sugiyama Shrine Kamihogi-uta Shaku." In April 1987, the festival was revived at Tsurumi Shrine grounds after a 115-year hiatus, and has since been held annually on April 29.

Highlights

The Hikime-no-Gi (Arrow-Shooting Exorcism) This ritual involves the hikime-yaku (arrow shooter) standing on the stage, holding a heavy rattan bow under the left arm, and shooting a hawk-feathered arrow toward the demon's gate (kimon) in the northeast direction. The shooter then performs a reverse exorcism by shooting an arrow toward the back demon's gate (ura-kimon) in the southwest direction. In ancient times, this was performed at 6:00 PM with twelve villagers gathering and chanting songs in unison, but today it takes place around 5:50 PM. The hikime-yaku role is alternated annually between the Sakuma and Shiota families, who served as village headmen of old Tsurumi Village, while the second bow is performed by the local neighborhood association chairman representing the community.

Performance of the Kamihogi-uta (Divine Praise Song) The Kamihogi-uta is structured according to the jo-ha-kyu concept of Noh and Kyogen theater, with the first section corresponding to the slow jo introduction. The agricultural work from rice nursery plowing to rice harvesting corresponds to the ha development section, while the harvest celebration corresponds to the kyu rapid section. Twelve shinji-gakari (ritual attendants) ascend the stage led by the sakudaisho (field leader), carrying hoes on their shoulders, and divide into two groups facing each other: the sakudaisho side and the inabito-gashira (rice farmer leader) side. During the seed-sowing scene, confetti representing seeds is mixed with monetary offerings (ohineri).

Performances Around the Yassai A rectangular yassai, made by wrapping straw around a core of green bamboo and binding it with straw rope, is placed in the center of the stage to represent a rice field. The performers (inabito) perform agricultural work movements around this yassai, which is one of the distinctive characteristics of Tsurumi no Tamatsuri. The detailed preservation of agricultural work movements and the use of the yassai as a field representation rather than drums set this festival apart from other rice planting festivals.

The Comic Roles of Otsuru and Kamezo In the harvest celebration, a series of characters appear including the shinme (sacred horse), a cow role with a saddle made of rice cakes, and a sheep mask that appears only in leap years, followed by the comic roles Otsuru (female) and Kamezo (male). The performances of Otsuru and Kamezo are sympathetic-magical acts praying for abundant grain harvests and prosperous offspring. Through the movements of a young man and woman, the performers express gratitude for the harvest and wishes for the continuation of the family line, symbolically represented through the swelling of rice ears.

Naorai and Mochi Scattering After the Kamihogi-uta concludes, the hikime-yaku and performers sit in the naorai (post-ritual feast) seats on the stage, eating ceremonial dishes prepared according to ancient customs. After the hikime-yaku leads a three-part hand clap (sanbon-jime), red and white rice cakes (mochi) are scattered to the audience. The mochi scattering is one of the enjoyable participatory elements for spectators, serving as a festive finale to the entire ritual.

Dogu Aratame (Tool Inspection) and Sugiyama Festival As a preliminary to the main festival, the Sugiyama Festival and document/tool inspection begin around 4:30 PM. The hikime-yaku leads the sakudaisho and inabito to the main hall, where a Shinto ceremony is performed and tamagushi (sacred branch offerings) are presented. Afterward, the performers receive purification (harae) in front of the main hall and individually inspect their tools. This preparatory ritual purifies the performers' minds and bodies, heightening the solemn atmosphere of the entire sacred event.

Event Information and Access

• Date: Annually on April 29 (Showa Day)
• Venue: Tsurumi Shrine grounds (3-10-1 Tsurumi Chuo, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture)
• Rain Plan: Held inside the shrine's assembly hall (sanshuden)
• Event Schedule: Sugiyama Festival and tool inspection (approximately 4:30 PM), Hikime-no-Gi (approximately 5:30 PM), Kamihogi-uta performance (approximately 6:00 PM), Naorai and mochi scattering (approximately 6:45 PM)
• Access: 3-minute walk from JR East Keihin-Tohoku Line / Tsurumi Line "Tsurumi Station," 4-minute walk from Keikyu "Keikyu Tsurumi Station"
• Organizer: Tsurumi Tamatsuri Preservation Society
• Admission: Free viewing from the shrine grounds. Food stalls, mochi scattering, and mikoshi (portable shrine) parades are also held
• Latest Updates: Check the official website for the most current schedule and event feasibility

Surrounding Area Information

Tsurumi Shrine is conveniently located a 3-minute walk from the west exit of JR Tsurumi Station, making it ideal for strolling through Tsurumi Ward before or after the festival. The area around Tsurumi Station is concentrated with restaurants and commercial facilities, providing convenient dining options after the festival concludes. On the festival day, the approach path from the station to the shrine is lined with food stalls, creating a lively atmosphere with local residents.

Tsurumi Ward in Yokohama City is home to various historical temples and shrines within walking distance. Sojiji Temple, the head temple of the Soto sect of Zen Buddhism, is within walking distance from Tsurumi Shrine, offering expansive grounds and historically significant architecture. Additionally, the walking path along the Tsurumi River is known as a cherry blossom viewing spot, allowing visitors to appreciate the arrival of spring.

Tsurumi Ward forms part of the Keihin Industrial Zone and has gained popularity as a spot for viewing factory nightscapes. Before or after the festival, visitors can enjoy the nighttime scenery created by the factory complexes along the Tsurumi River estuary and Keihin Canal. The area offers a unique intersection of industrial and historical landscapes, where visitors can simultaneously experience traditional performing arts and modern urban scenery.

Related Information

• Tsurumi Tamatsuri Preservation Society: Established on July 17, 1986, responsible for preserving and passing down the festival
• Yokohama City Registered Intangible Folk Cultural Property: Tsurumi no Tamatsuri was registered as a Yokohama City Registered Regional Cultural Property (Regional Intangible Folk Cultural Property) in 2017
• Traditional Culture Polar Award Regional Prize: Received the 37th Traditional Culture Polar Award Regional Prize in 2017
• Regional Traditional Performing Arts Grand Prize Regional Promotion Award: Received in 2021, recognized for the revival process, intergenerational transmission involving children, and contribution to community vibrancy
• Revival Monument: A monument commemorating the 10th anniversary of the revival was erected on the grounds of Tsurumi Shrine in 1997
• Related Events: In addition to Tamatsuri, Tsurumi Shrine holds the Tenno Festival featuring a large portable shrine with a long-handled sickle
• Research Materials: The reconstruction utilized historical documents including "Sugiyama Daimyojin Gojitsureki," Kurokawa Harumura's "Sugiyama Shrine Kamihogi-uta Shaku," the Sakuma family document "Chinju Sugiyama Daimyojin Sairei Uta," and the handwritten manuscript "Chigusa"
• Cultural Property Designation: In 2013, the Tsurumi Tamatsuri Preservation Society was certified as a Yokohama City Intangible Folk Cultural Property Protection Encouragement Organization

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