🎎 Hirado Gongen Festival

In the northwest of Nagasaki Prefecture, the autumn tradition of the Hirado region, the "Hirado Kōnichi Festival," is the annual grand festival of the Kameoka Shrine. The Kameoka Shrine is located within Hirado Castle on a hill, overlooking the Hirado Strait and the mainland of Kyushu, and it enshrines the ancestral spirits of the Matsura family, the lords of Hirado. The festival is held for four days from October 24 to 27 each year. On the 25th, after traditional performances called "Hōnōmai" featuring "Jaodori (ジャ踊り)" from Tsukijimachi and "Shishimai" from Miyanocho, there is a procession called "Mikoshi," where portable shrines and armored warriors, along with priests on horseback, parade through the city streets, creating a lively atmosphere throughout the city. The highlight of the festival is the "Oōdaikagura" on the 26th. The "Hirado Kagura," designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of the country, is performed in its entirety only on this day, showcasing up to 24 pieces over a precious performance lasting more than seven hours. Among these, the kagura performed by two priests carrying each other and the kagura using real swords are particularly spectacular and not to be missed. Additionally, on the weekend before the "Hirado Kōnichi Festival," the city center shopping street transforms into a pedestrian paradise, hosting a food event called "Hirado Kōnichi Festival Castle Town Autumn Festival," featuring participation from local dining establishments.

The autumn festival at Kameoka Shrine features the "Mikoshi Parade," where three portable shrines and a procession of warriors and nobles in traditional attire march through the streets. At the shrine, 24 pieces of the nationally designated important intangible folk cultural asset "Hirado Kagura" are performed. In addition to the Kagura, there are also performances of traditional Hirado arts.