Home > SHIGA 滋賀県 > Maibara 米原市 > Hinade Shrine Sumo Odori Dance and Sakata 日撫神社 奉納角力・角力おどり・坂田駅周辺

hn100-20090501_5980.jpg
If you ride the Tokaido Line train between Maibara and Samegai Stations and look out the window in the north, you might notice this low hill called Hinade-yama.Near JR Sakata Station (Hokuriku Line) in former Omi-cho town is Mt. Hinodeyama with Hinode Jinja Shrine holding an annual sumo festival on the third Mon. of Sept. It features mainly children's sumo and a sumo jinku dance by about 16 men.
hn101-20090501_5984.jpg
If you look carefully, you might notice a manmade structure on Mt. Hinade. Too small to be a castle, doesn't look like a house, looks like a lookout deck.
hn102-20090921_1772.jpg
One day in 2009, I finally investigated this mountain in Maibara. It's about 2 km from JR Sakata Station on the Hokuriku Line toward Nagahama. You can rent a bicycle at Sakata Station.
hn103-20090921_1775.jpg
Omi Branch of Maibara City Hall is near the foot of Hinade-yama.
hn104-20090921_1777.jpg
Large torii in the middle of an intersection. It belongs to Hinade Shrine which is on Mt. Hinade.
hn105-20090921_1779.jpg
The road around the mountain is decorated with lanterns on the occasion of Hinade Shrine's sumo festival on Sept. 21, 2009.
hn106-20090921_1783.jpg
Entrance and torii to Hinade Shrine with banners announcing the sumo festival held on the third Mon. of September in Maibara.
hn107-20090501_5841.jpg
Path to Hinade Jinja Shrine.
hn108-20090501_5842.jpg
hn109-20090921_1821.jpg
A few food and game stalls during the sumo festival.
hn110-20090501_5844.jpg
Hinade Shrine is dedicated to a god called Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto and Okinaga-sukuneo. 少毘古名命(すくなひこなのみこと)・息長宿禰王(おきながすくねおう)MAP
hn111-20090501_5848.jpg
Hinade Shrine in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture has Imperial connections as it also worships the legendary Emperor Ojin.
hn112-20090501_5975.jpg
The shrine also has a sumo ring. In the 13th century, Emperor Go-Toba visited the shrine and watched sumo performed by the local people. He offered a yellow cow to the shrine. This was the start of the shrine's annual sumo festival.
hn113-20090921_1826.jpg
Mt. Hinodeyama with Hinode Jinja Shrine holds an annual sumo festival on the third Mon. of Sept. It features mainly children's sumo and a sumo jinku dance by about 16 men. For the sumo festival, the sumo ring is decorated with four pillars and pieces of cloth. Near JR Sakata Station (Hokuriku Line) in former Omi-cho town.
hn114-20090921_1830.jpg
The sumo festival started at 1 pm. They had kids and men on both sides of the sumo ring.
hn115-20090921_1831.jpg
hn116-20090921_1834.jpg
The yobidashi caller calls the name of the sumo wrestler.
hn117-20090921_1836.jpg
The first match was between these two men who had a piece of paper in their mouths.
hn118-20090921_1837.jpg
hn119-20090921_1844.jpg
hn120-20090921_1845.jpg
Winner. The sumo matches are held as religious ceremony dedicated to the shrine's gods.
hn121-20090921_1849.jpg
Sanyaku Soroifumi has the top three ranking wrestlers (Ozeki, Sekiwake, Komusubi) stomp the ring to further purify the ring as they face the shrine.
hn122-20090921_1852.jpg
Yobidashi
hn123-20090921_1859.jpg
A few more matches by the men were held.
hn124-20090921_1862.jpg
hn125-20090921_1870.jpg
hn126-20090921_1871.jpg
hn127-20090921_1872.jpg
hn128-20090921_1873.jpg
Ozeki
hn129-20090921_1876.jpg
Then the children's sumo matches. Boys only, no girls. This was the main highlight and crowd pleaser.
hn130-20090921_1887.jpg
hn131-20090921_1899.jpg
hn132-20090921_1913.jpg
hn133-20090921_1914.jpg
hn134-20090921_1926.jpg
The winners received various household and kitchen goods like towels, pillows, toaster, etc.
hn135-20090921_1938.jpg
Also see my YouTube video here.
hn136-20090921_1972.jpg
It wasn't so crowded. There were some photographers, and it received local TV news coverage.
hn137-20090921_1981.jpg
The children's sumo were based on age. And they got older.
hn138-20090921_1944.jpg
hn139-20090921_1943.jpg
hn140-20090921_1949.jpg
Prizes to be awarded.
hn141-20090921_1976.jpg
hn142-20090921_1948.jpg
hn143-20090921_1969.jpg
A pillow for this winner.
hn144-20090921_1988.jpg
Then they held the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony performed by the men.
hn145-20090921_1989.jpg
While dressed in formal sumo aprons, they first went to the shrine to pray.
hn146-20090921_2000.jpg
hn147-20090921_2004.jpg
Hinade Shrine's priest blesses the wrestlers.
hn148-20090921_2015.jpg
The wrestlers then walked to the sumo ring.
hn149-20090921_2019.jpg
hn150-20090921_2026.jpg
The men performing the ring-entering ceremony for the west side.
hn151-20090921_2029.jpg
hn152-20090921_2030.jpg
hn153-20090921_2035.jpg
The same men perform the ring-entering ceremony for the east side. There were about 20 men.
hn154-20090921_2039.jpg
After the ring-entering ceremony, the men remained on the ring and performed the sumo odori dance accompanied by sumo jinku singing.
hn155-20090921_2045.jpg
Sumo odori dance at Hinade Shrine in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture. Also see my YouTube video here.
hn156-20090921_2054.jpg
Afterward, more children's sumo.
hn157-20090921_2057.jpg
hn158-20090921_2059.jpg
hn158a-hinadesumo.youtube
My YouTube video of the Hinade Shrine Sumo Odori Dance.Mt. Hinodeyama with Hinode Jinja Shrine holds an annual sumo festival on the third Mon. of Sept. It features mainly children's sumo and a sumo jinku dance by about 16 men. Near JR Sakata Station (Hokuriku Line).
hn159-20090921_2061.jpg
hn160-20090921_2068.jpg
Sumo tournament winners.
hn161-20090921_2071.jpg
Then for fun, they held random sumo matches regardless of age and size.
hn162-20090921_2073.jpg
Uneven match.
hn163-20090921_2086.jpg
hn164-20090921_2098.jpg
In the end, the boys take home their prizes in a large garbage bag.
hn165-20090921_2104.jpg
More matches between the men.
hn166-20090921_2108.jpg
Finally, the bow twirling ceremony (called Yumitori-shiki). Notice that he faces the shrine.
hn167-20090921_2112.jpg
In the end, they gathered on the sumo ring and clapped their hands in appreciation.
hn200-20090501_5838.jpg
Map of Mt. Hinade. There are short hiking trails on this low mountain.
hn201-20090501_5853.jpg
Within the Hinade Shrine grounds is this entrance to a hiking trail going up Mt. Hinade-yama. Elevation is only 240 meters so it's an easy climb.
hn202-20090501_5855.jpg
Hiking trail on Mt. Hinade.
hn203-20090501_5858.jpg
hn204-20090501_5859.jpg
hn205-20090501_5860.jpg
Go left.
hn206-20090501_5861.jpg
Easy hike and well worth it for the great views of Maibara. This is one of those places you've never heard of, but should visit.
hn207-20090501_5864.jpg
While hiking up, you'll see a few views like this.
hn208-20090501_5868.jpg
Rock
hn209-20090501_5871.jpg
Pine tree
hn210-20090501_5885.jpg
Looking toward Nagahama.
hn211-20090501_5891.jpg
The lookout deck in view at the end of the trail.
hn212-20090501_5892.jpg
Now this is what I saw from the train. It is a wooden lookout deck.
hn213-20090501_5895.jpg
hn214-20090501_5935.jpg
Lookout deck on Mt. Hinade.
hn215-20090501_5931.jpg
hn216-20090501_5927.jpg
Looking toward Maibara Station. You can see the tiny Heiwado sign with the white dove. That's next to Maibara Station.
hn217-20090501_5923.jpg
Looking toward Sakata Station which is on the right of the white roof near the center of the picture.
hn218-20090501_5917.jpg
Lake Biwa and Takeshima island off Hikone.
hn219-20090501_5900.jpg
hn220-20090501_5904.jpg
Shinkansen
hn221-20090501_5919.jpg
Nagahama
hn222-20090501_5918.jpg
Nagahama Dome and Chikubushima island in the background.
hn223-20090501_5920.jpg
Nagahama
hn224-20090501_5909.jpg
Shinkansen
hn225-20090501_5948.jpg
Looking north
hn226-20090501_5944.jpg
Meishin Expressway
hn227-20090501_5950.jpg
Meishin Expressway
hn228-20090501_5960.jpg
Summit of Hinade-yama is a rickety bench.
hn229-20090501_5964.jpg
Another trail to go down. Mt. Ibuki in the distance.
hn230-20090501_5952.jpg
Mt. Ibuki
hn231-20090501_5969.jpg
Colorful moth
hn250-20090921_1793.jpg
Also near Mt. Hinade are numerous ancient kofun (tumuli) burial mounds. They are related to the Okinaga Clan which is related to the ancient Imperial family.
hn251-20090921_1789.jpg
The low hill on the left and right are tumuli.
hn252-20090921_1792.jpg
The Maibara Omi Public Library also houses the Maibara Omi Haniwa Museum. 米原市近江はにわ館
hn253-20090921_1798.jpg
For a rural museum, the Haniwa Museum is quite impressive. It displays ancient haniwa figures, made of clay, found in tumuli in the surrounding area.
hn254-20090921_1799.jpg
A model of a burial mound. Go inside and it becomes a video projection room where you can see an entertaining video.
hn255-20090921_1802.jpg
Haniwa figure
hn256-20090921_1809.jpg
Haniwa figure shaped as a house.
hn257-20090921_1803.jpg
hn500-IMG_5203.jpg
JR Sakata Station platform on Hokuriku Line, between Maibara and Nagahama Stations. Very small station with no station personnel. Train tickets sold by one vending machine.
hn501-IMG_5194.jpg
Sign promoting NHK Taiga Drama in 2006, "Komyo ga Tsuji."
hn502-IMG_4577.jpg
Sakata Station platform
hn503-IMG_5192.jpg
Sakata Station has a nice station building (next photo), but it is not connected to the train station. Totally separate.
hn504-IMG_4585.jpg
Sakata Station building right next to the train platform. But you don't go through this building to get to the train platform. Very unusual. The building is almost deserted.
hn505-IMG_5190.jpg
The station building does have an office and few tourist pamphlets. They also rent bicycles. 500 yen for a few hours. If you want to go to Mt. Hinade (about 2 km away), renting a bicycle is recommended.
hn506-IMG_4580.jpg
In front of Sakata Station is a small plaza.
hn507-IMG_4582.jpg
The plaza has this Statue of Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo and Chiyo. 「なでしこ」山内一豊と千代
hn508-IMG_4584.jpg
Statue of Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo and Chiyo near Sakata Station in Maibara, Shiga. Unveiled on May 7, 2005. 「なでしこ」山内一豊と千代
hn509-IMG_4583.jpg
The main characters featured in the NHK Taiga Drama in 2006, "Komyo ga Tsuji." Chiyo was Kazutoyo's wife and was born in this area. Chiyo became a nun after her husband died.
hn510-IMG_4587.jpg
Sakata Station amid rice paddies.
hn511-IMG_4602.jpg
A short walk from Sakata Station is the Gravesite of Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo's mother, Hoshuin, in a very quiet place.
hn512-IMG_4595.jpg
Gravesite of Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo's mother Hoshuin. 法秀院の墓
hn513-IMG_4601.jpg
Gravesite of Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo's mother Hoshuin. 法秀院の墓
hn514-IMG_4599.jpg
Plaque next to grave. Hoshuin never really left this place and died here as well.
hn515-IMG_4604.jpg
Touristy touch
hn516-IMG_4593.jpg
hn517-IMG_4606.jpg
Now walking toward Naganoya.
hn518-IMG_4609.jpg
hn519-IMG_4611.jpg
Naganoya, Yamauchi Kazutoyo's childhood home. The front gate, made of wood, collapsed some years ago, and this wooden structure is all that's left. 長野家
hn520-IMG_4613.jpg
Naganoya, the house where Yamauchi Kazutoyo lived during childhood with his mother.
hn521-IMG_4614.jpg
Naganoya
hn522-IMG_4588.jpg
Rice paddy
132 files on 1 page(s)