 Most viewed - Shichikawa Matsuri Festival 七川祭 |
Held annually on May 4 in Takashima, Shichikawa Matsuri is Oarahiko Shrine's biggest festival (Reisai). It starts with a procession in the shrine's neighborhood. The shrine is near Shin-Asahi Station (JR Kosei Line).764 views
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Shichikawa Matsuri's yakko-furi dance is a Shiga Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property. 滋賀県選択無形民俗文化財517 views
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My YouTube video of the Shichikawa Matsuri in 2010.465 views
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The horseback archer on his second run. He did not shoot any arrows. 402 views
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Yabusame horseback archer.401 views
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The boys running. When you see them, you know the horse is coming so keep off the path.384 views
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The horseback archer did not shoot any arrows. (It takes a lot of skill to do it.)333 views
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At the end of the baba, they turned around, and I left the scene.293 views
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The path to the shrine also serves as the horse track (baba 馬場) for galloping horses (yabusame).290 views
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Yabusame horseback archer.283 views
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The horseback archer faced the shrine and gave a ritualistic prayer with a bow at 2:20 pm. He was followed by the eight horseback riders who bowed to the shrine.283 views
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First torii of Oarahiko Shrine. It's kind of far from the nearest train station of Shin-Asahi on the JR Kosei Line. Rent a bicycle from the tourist office at the train station. 大荒比古神社267 views
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Oarahiko Shrine worships Toyoki-iri-Hiko-no-Mikoto (豊城入彦命), Oaradawake-no-Mikoto (大荒田別命), and the four gods related to the Sasaki clan who ruled Omi (Shiga) in the 14th century.264 views
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Leading the procession are 12 yakko-furi men who carry the horseback archer's wooden targets. Yakko-furi were manual laborers of the samurai. 奴振り263 views
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A short prayer by the shrine priest.259 views
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The Shichikawa Matsuri is held on the same day as the Omizo Matsuri in neighboring Omi-Takashima. So I saw the Omizo Matsuri in the morning, then rushed over to see this festival.253 views
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They performed their routine twice along different sections of this horse track to enable everyone to see it. It was about 20 min. long.252 views
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After a triumphant return home, the Sasaki clan would perform yabusame horseback archery with 12 horses and 12 targets as an offering to the shrine. This was the beginning of this festival.249 views
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Entrance to Oarahiko Shrine. The shrine was established in the 13th century. It was patronized by the Sasaki clan in the 14th century when they ruled Omi Province. MAP247 views
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Eight more work horses in the procession. The horses comes from the eight former villages under the shrine's tutelage. 役馬246 views
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Then this cute little boy wandered in.246 views
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At about 2:40 pm, the yabusame horseback archery began with the yakko-furi boys running down the path.246 views
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And they run again ahead of the horse.245 views
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They paraded the mikoshi down the horse track (baba).245 views
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About Oarahiko Shrine in Japanese.244 views
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The boys walk back again.243 views
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At 2 pm, they had a ceremony with the shrine priest and representatives from the eight former villages.242 views
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The yakko-furi proceeded to the steps leading to the shrine and then dispersed.241 views
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Toyoki-iri-Hiko-no-Mikoto was the son of Emperor Sujin, the 10th emperor of Japan. Portable shrine is stored in the Haiden Hall during the festival.240 views
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The mikoshi was hauled on a cart.240 views
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Turned out that the umbrella holder was his papa whom he had missed.239 views
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Oarahiko Shrine was originally established to appease the god to prevent flooding from local rivers. The Sasaki clan worshipped here whenever they went off to war and when they returned triumphantly.238 views
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After lunch, the yakko-furi arrived at the shrine at around 1 pm.236 views
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Nice shoes.236 views
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After his first run, the horseback archer trots back.236 views
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Nearer to the shrine, the horse track is lined with spectator seating. Apparently, people donated money for a seat to view the procession and galloping horses.235 views
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Eight horses waiting.235 views
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Then the remaining horses ran a few times as well, three times each.234 views
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They pay their respects to the shrine.233 views
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A procession of musicians went up the steps and walked around the shrine.231 views
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The musicians and umbrella holders go back down from the shrine.231 views
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They were soon followed by a horse galloping at full speed.231 views
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The banner reads, "Oarahiko Jinja."230 views
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After the yabusame, the yakko-furi boys performed without the targets. This was around 3:40 pm.228 views
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Yabusame horseback archer.227 views
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A short mikoshi procession led by the shrine priest.222 views
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The horseback archer on his third run. He spread his arms while holding a bow and arrow, but did not shoot any arrows. 221 views
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They made their way up to the shrine.221 views
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Then they ran up the steps.220 views
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The yakko-furi approach the steps to the shrine.218 views
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Next, the horseback archer approached the shrine.213 views
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Putting on the phoenix ornament atop the mikoshi.212 views
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And went to carry the mikoshi inside the Haiden Hall.211 views
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The young men performing the yakko-furi come from one of the eight former villages in the area. The former villages take turns in participating in the yakko-furi procession.206 views
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