Nagahama Hikiyama Festival 長浜曳山祭

Home > SHIGA 滋賀県 > Nagahama 長浜市 > Nagahama Hikiyama Festival 長浜曳山祭

The Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri is held annually on several days in April, but the main day is April 15. Comprehensive documentary video showing highlights of 2016.On Dec. 1, 2016 (JST), Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri was inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as one of 33 "Yama, Hoko, and Yatai float festivals in Japan."

Poster for the 2009 Nagahama Hikiyama Festival. For the basis festival schedule, also see my blog post.

The Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri's main highlight are boys age 5 to 12 performing kabuki plays on a few ornate floats at Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine and other locations in central Nagahama. MAP

These pictures were taken on April 15. In the morning, all the kabuki actors proceed to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine, arriving by 8:30 am.

Arriving at Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine. People are not allowed to cross in front of this procession.

The kabuki boys for each hikiyama float proceed to the shrine, headed by a boy holding a sacred staff with zigzag paper.

After the kabuki boys, processions of Naginata sword bearers also proceed to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.

Men wearing sumo aprons also arrive at the shrine.

The hikiyama floats await at the shrine as everyone arrive. The hikiyama are about 7 meters high.

Naginata sword bearers standby near the hikiyama floats.

The kabuki boys are placed on the hikiyama floats.

A ceremony is conducted before the kabuki plays started.

The hikiyama floats were then pulled into position for the day's first kabuki performances.

The kabuki performances then started at around 10 am on one of the hikiyama floats. The kabuki performances are held as offerings to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.

Sanbaso dancer is the first to perform.

They use microphones so we can hear them speak. Very authentic style, and they practiced a lot for this festival.

At the shrine, the kabuki play is performed one by one on the four floats, and not at the same time.

Large crowd watching kabuki by boys at Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.

Fine art work on the hikiyama's ceiling.

After the kabuki play ends, they pull and turn the hikiyama float and it goes toward central Nagahama through the shopping arcade where they will perform the same play again.

Footwear behind a float.

Tapestry may have a western design.

Steering the hikiyama from behind.

Turning the hikiyama's wheel.

The next kabuki play started on another hikiyama. Amazing how a boy can look so feminine.

This hikiyama is shaped like a boat.

Carvings on a Nagahama hikiyama float.

Boys act on a boat on the boat float.

As the float is pulled, flute players follow it.

The sail of the boat float almost got caught on a tree branch as it was moved.

Pulling the boat float from the shrine.

The crowd watches the final kabuki performance starting at around 1:30 pm.

The last kabuki performance was a dance rather than a play.

A hikiyama proceeds through the shopping arcade whose ceiling is high enough. Each hikiyama holds a kabuki performance four times this day.

Otemon arcade

Kabuki performance in the shopping arcade.

If you missed the performance at the shrine, you can see the same performance later in the shopping arcade or at the Otabisho.

This hikiyama is coming through the shopping arcade.

Hikiyama float storehouse.

A short distance from the shopping arcade is the Otabisho where all hikiyama floats congregate and give the day's final performance.

Festival banner

Nagahama hikiyama floats at the Otabisho. The building on the right houses the mikoshi portable shrine.

Portable shrine at the Otabisho.

The festival on April 15 lasts well after dark. The day's final kabuki performance starts at around 8 pm at the Otabisho.

A boy writes with a brush with his mouth.

At around 9 pm when the day's final kabuki performance ends, they take out the mikoshi and parade it around the Otabisho before they carry it back to Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine.