🎎 Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri

The Nagahama Hikiyama Festival has a history of about 450 years and is one of Japan's three major float festivals. It has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of the country. From April 9 to 17 each year, various related activities, including nude rituals performed by young men, take place in Nagahama Town, Shiga Prefecture, dazzling spectators and allowing them to enjoy a festive atmosphere. The most notable feature of the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival is the "Hikiyama" floats. These floats, used during the festival, were manufactured in the mid-Edo period and showcase the essence of traditional crafts from that era, including metalwork, wood carving, and lacquerware. The sight of people in festive attire pulling these luxurious and splendid floats through the streets is truly spectacular. A major highlight of the festival is the "Kodomo Kabuki (Kyogen)." On the evenings of April 13, and throughout the days of April 14, 15, and 16, local boys aged 5 to 12 perform beautiful Kabuki shows on the Hikiyama floats. The "Hounou Kyogen" performed at Nagahama Hachiman Shrine on the 15th is particularly remarkable. On the four Hikiyama floats entering the shrine grounds, the children perform a Kabuki show lasting about 40 minutes, with their superb acting and charming presence rivaling that of adults, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience. Additionally, the "Nagahama Hikiyama Museum" displays the actual Hikiyama floats used in the festival, as well as historical artifacts and information related to the "Nagahama Hikiyama Festival." It is a great place to experience the charm of the festival while learning about the history of Nagahama and more related knowledge, making it well worth a visit. In 2016, the Nagahama Hikiyama Festival was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage alongside 32 other "Yama, Hoko, Yatai traditional activities" in Japan.

With a history of approximately 450 years, this traditional festival has been designated as an important national intangible folk cultural heritage. The magnificent "Yamaboko (float)" was created during the mid-Edo period and is a highlight not to be missed. The most captivating program of the festival is the "Kodomo Kabuki," where you can witness performances that are no less impressive than those of adults. At the "Nagahama Yamaboko Museum," visitors can learn about the history and charm of the "Nagahama Yamaboko Festival" through various exhibits. In 2016, it was registered as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.