刈谷万燈祭2025年・愛知県刈谷・Kariya Mando Festival 2025, Japan
Kariya, Aichi Prefecture Today, we are in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, a city known for manufacturing, with strong connections to the Toyota company, The event that we are here to watch today is the Kariya Mando Festival, also known as “Akibasha Reisai.” It’s the main festival of the Akiba Shrine (“Akibasha”), which is where the festival began, back in 1778. The Kariya Mando Festival is a 2-day festival, held on the last weekend of July, and today is the second day. The central feature of the festival is the carrying of huge lanterns (Mando) , made in the shape of “samurai warrior dolls” (musha-ningyo). The Mando are paraded through the streets of Kariya, accompanied by musical bands, playing flutes, banging drums. and making ‘clacking sounds’ using wooden hand clappers known as “naruko” (which are often associated with “Yosakoi” festival dances). The Mando procession is on its way to the Akiba Shrine (“Akibasha”), which is where exciting dance performancesー featuring the illuminated Mandoーwill be given. Each “Mando” is made from bamboo and “washi” (traditional Japanese) paper. The Mando are about 5 metres in height, 3 metres in width, and weigh about 60 kg. The Mando Festival, designated as an intangible folk cultural property of Aichi Prefecture. Itl is said to be held to pray for bountiful harvests, prevention of fire disasters, and safety in the town. “Akibasha”, built in 1756, when it was known as Akiba-dō, attracted worshippers as a god of fire prevention. Local historical documents mention a festival in 1778, in which Mando were displayed to the accompaniment of flutes and drums It is said that this is the origin of the current festival, which came to be called the “Mando Festival” in the early Showa period (1926-1989). One by one, the crews enter the shrine, carrying their Mando and perform dances to a musical accompaniment. These dances are known as “Shinzen-mai” (literally “dancing before the Gods”) and are performed as offerings to the Shinto deities.
刈谷の万燈祭は秋葉社の例祭で、240以上続く、火難防除と町内安全を祈願するお祭りです。重さ約60kgの万燈を一人ずつ交替で担ぎ舞い踊るお祭りです。
This video shows scenes from the second and final day of the Kariya Mando Festival, an annual festival, held on the last Saturday and Sunday of July in Kariya City, Aichi prefecture, Japan. “Mando”, which are huge paper lanterns made in the shape of “samurai warrior dolls” (musha ningyo), are paraded through the streets of Kariya City. The Mando procession makes its way to the Akiba Shrine (Akibasha), the birthplace of the festival, where exciting dance performances are given.
#祭り#japaneseculture #愛知県