Festival Experience

On September 23, a small town in Shoin, Suzu called Okada held its annual festival. The procession started at 3 PM, with the main highlight of the festival taking place from around 9:30 PM until just before 11 PM.

I went to the town by bicycle, which took about 25 minutes. The road was very dark, and most of the time I had to rely on my bike light and, literally, the moonlight. Going by bicycle is not something I would recommend, especially for people who are afraid of the dark.

Thankfully, I reached the festival safely without bumping into any animals along the way or encountering any supernatural beings. The sound of flutes and drums from a few hundred meters away made me feel more at ease. After all, biking for about 20 minutes through complete darkness without seeing or hearing any signs of a festival made me question some of my life decisions.

A coworker introduced me to the festival in the area and explained the general program to me. Thanks to him, I was able to participate in the event. His family is also closely connected to the festival. He plays the flute during the procession, while his father was responsible for the illustration on the rear panel of the Kiriko.

At around 10 PM, the Kiriko was carried and pulled toward the shrine. This included going up the shrine stairs. Ropes connected to the Kiriko were pulled from above to help the carriers manage the weight and prevent the Kiriko from falling backward.

Once the Kiriko reached the shrine grounds, it was carried around burning straw. The same movement was also performed by the Mikoshi. When the Mikoshi was eventually returned to the shrine, it signaled the end of the festival.

Before I went home, my coworker even shared a few drinks with me. After saying goodbye, I got back on my bicycle and cycled through the darkness once again until I finally reached home.