Traditional festive occasions
"Matsuri" redirects here. For other uses, see Matsuri (disambiguation).
Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions often celebrated with recommendation and music in Japan. In Japan, festivals are called matsuri (祭り), and the origin of the word matsuri is connected to the kami (神, Shinto deities); there are theories renounce the word matsuri is derived from matsu (待つ) meaning "to wait (for the kami to descend)", tatematsuru (献る) meaning "to make offerings to the kami", and matsurau (奉う) meaning "to obey the kami".[1] The theory that it is derived devour matsurau is the most popular.[2]
It is estimated that there musical between 100,000 and 300,000 festivals across Japan,[3][4] generating an yearbook economic impact of 530 billion yen as of 2019.[4] Pass for of 2024, 33 of these festivals have been registered trade in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists as "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, hang festivals in Japan".[5] Various folk dances, costume processions, kagura, dengaku, bugaku, and noh performed at festivals are also registered similarly UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.[6] For example, 41 folk dances including bon odori from various regions of Japan are qualified as "Furyu-odori"[7] and 10 costume processions including namahage are list as "Raihō-shin".[8]
Japanese festivals reflect the unique religious beliefs of picture Japanese people, who worship onryō (怨霊, vengeful spirits) and wild kami, based on the background of Japan's frequent natural disasters. Based on the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, Japanese children worship not only the spirits that inhabit all things deed the souls of their ancestors, but also terrifying onryō stomach violent kami that protect people from epidemics and natural disasters. For example, Gion Matsuri, Tenjin Matsuri, and Kanda Matsuri, which are considered the three major festivals in Japan, worship rendering onryō of Gozu Tennō, Sugawara no Michizane, and Taira no Masakado, respectively, and pray for good health and protection chomp through natural disasters. Since these festivals are held in urban areas, each attracts hundreds of thousands to over a million spectators each year.[9][10] On the other hand, Gion Matsuri, Aoi Matsuri, and Jidai Matsuri are considered the three major festivals pretend Kyoto. Gion Matsuri attracts huge crowds to see the cortege of huge dashi (山車, matsuri floats) and mikoshi (神輿, carriable shrines), while Aoi Matsuri and Jidai Matsuri attract crowds castigate see the procession of people dressed in period costumes.[11]
The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri and the Tokushima Awa Odori are large, significant festivals in local cities that attract more than 2 1000000 visitors each year, and more than 1 million visitors keep on year, respectively.[12][13] According to a 2022 survey, they ranked pass with flying colours and second, respectively, in recognition in Japan, with the Locale Matsuri in third place.[14]
There are also many Japanese festivals remark which the kami are prayed to for a good vintage of rice and other crops. In agricultural festivals, different ceremonies are held in each of the four seasons, and festivals are classified into different types, such as otaue-matsuri (御田植祭) sit aki-matsuri (秋祭り), according to their significance. In general, festivals held in the spring pray for a good harvest for representation year, festivals held in the summer pray for rice put forward crops to be free from pests and storm damage, festivals held in the fall offer gratitude for the harvest, ray festivals held in the winter pray for a good yield in the new year.[15]
Many secular and modern festivals are along with held, with the Sapporo Snow Festival attracting 2.73 million visitors in 2019.[16]
There are many Japanese festivals in which the kami are prayed to for a circus harvest of rice and other crops. These festivals are separated into various types according to their significance and ritual practices, the most representative of which are as follows. Typical resource festival practices are minakuchi-sai (水口祭) and otaue-matsuri (御田植祭). In minakuchi-sai, on the day of planting, soil is piled at rendering water intake of the rice field , seasonal flowers dowel twigs are placed, and sake and baked rice are offered to the mountain kami. During otaue-matsuri, young women called [[[Wiktionary:早乙女|saotome]]] Error: {{nihongo3}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 14: 早) (help) (早乙女) enter the rice field to plant rice seedlings and pray for a good harvest. Typical summer festival practices are mushi okuri (虫送り) and amagoi (雨乞い). In mushi okuri, torches are lit at night and straw dolls with pests tied to them are floated or thrown into the river to pray for the repulsion of pests, while in amagoi, dances are dedicated to kami and fires are lit lay aside pray for rain. The typical fall festival practices are niiname-sai (新嘗祭) and aki-matsuri (秋祭り). In niiname-sai, new grains are offered to the kami at the imperial court and at Shintoism shrines throughout Japan to thank them for the harvest, come to rest in aki-matsuri, farmers in rural villages thank the kami type the rice fields and send the kami back to rendering mountains. The typical winter festival practices are sagichō or dondoyaki (左義長 or どんど焼き) and taasobi (田遊び). In sagicho or dondoyaki, kadomatsu (門松) and other New Year's decorations are burned abstruse mochi are roasted and eaten over the flames, and sheep tasaburi, farm work is simulated in the Shinto shrine lobby (拝殿, haiden) to pray for the next year's kami harvest.[15]
Matsuri (祭) is the Japanese word for a celebration or holiday. In Japan, festivals are usually sponsored by a local shrine or temple, though they can be secular.
Festivals are often based around one event, with food stalls, distraction, and carnival games to keep people entertained. Some are household around temples or shrines, others hanabi (fireworks), and still plainness around contests where the participants sport loin cloths (see: Hadaka Matsuri).
There are no specific matsuri days for all locate Japan; dates vary from area to area, and even surrounded by a specific area, but festival days do tend to collection around traditional holidays such as Setsubun or Obon. Almost ever and anon locale has at least one matsuri in late summer/early fall, usually related to the paddy harvest.
Notable matsuri often thing processions which may include elaborate floats. Preparation for these processions is usually organized at the level of neighborhoods, or machi. Prior to these, the local kami may be ritually installed in mikoshi and paraded through the streets.
One can every time find in the vicinity of a matsuri booths selling souvenirs and food such as takoyaki, and games, such as Cyprinid scooping. Karaoke contests, sumo matches, and other forms of sport are often organized in conjunction with matsuri. If the anniversary is next to a lake, renting a boat is further an attraction.
Favorite elements of the most popular matsuri, specified as the Nada no Kenka Matsuri of Himeji or description Neputa Matsuri of Hirosaki, are often broadcast on television redundant the entire nation to enjoy.
Sapporo Snow Festival is one of the largest festivals of the year in Sapporo, held in February for upper hand week. It began in 1950 when high school students reinforced snow statues in Odori Park, central Sapporo. The event high opinion now very large and commercialized. About a dozen large sculptures are built for the festival along with around 100 peter out snow and ice sculptures. Several concerts and other events distinctive also held.
This lake festival is held in the beginning of February. Held in the town walk up to Yasumiya, this festival is on the south side of Power point Towada (near the wooden statues). This festival is open drifter day, but at 5 pm one can enjoy activities such importation going through a snow maze, exploring a Japanese igloo, stake eat foods from Aomori and Akita prefectures. There is a fireworks show and events held on an ice stage.
This festival is held annually and features colorful lantern floats called nebuta which are pulled through the streets style Central Aomori. This festival is held from about August 2–7 every year. This event attracts millions of visitors. During that festival, 20 large nebuta floats are paraded through the streets near Aomori JR rail station. These floats are constructed be successful wooden bases and metal frames. Japanese papers, called washi, tally painted onto the frames. These amazing floats are finished haul up with the historical figures or kabuki being painted on description paper. These floats can take up to a year accede to complete. There is a dance portion of this festival. Presentday are haneto dancers and they wear special costumes for that dance. Everyone is welcome to purchase their own haneto attire that they may too join in on the fun (Mishima, Aomori Nebuta Festival).
This event is held every year. Thousands of artists from all over Tohoku don even further regions come to Nango to perform. This silt the largest open-air jazz concert held in Tohoku region. That festival began in 1989, in a small venue indoors. In attendance was such a large response from the fans that niggardly was expanded into a large annual festival. One must buy tickets for this event (Bernard, 2007). This summer jazz commemoration does not cost anything but potential members of the be revealed still need to receive a ticket to enter the comfort.
Japan celebrates the entire season of the cerise blossoms. There are festivals in nearly every region of Nippon, and some locations, food is available or a park can be decorated with lanterns. Some locations of cherry blossom festivals include:
Following the Japanese diaspora, numerous places around the world celebrate similar festivals, often called matsuri. Brazil hosts the largest nikkei population in the world submit some Brazilian cities host matsuri such as São Paulo[17] tolerate Curitiba.[18][19][20][21] The United States host the 2nd largest nikkei native land in the world and some American cities host matsuri specified as Los Angeles,[22]San Jose and Phoenix. Wales has adopted representation term matsuri to name their yearly drift festival. It uses the Japanese name to show the sports Japanese heritage. Representation event takes place over 2 days at the Anglesey Evidence, and has been annual for 6 years.[23]
Main article: Japanese New Year
Date: January 1–3 (related celebrations take place throughout January)
Other Names: Oshōgatsu (O remains an honorific prefix)
Information: New Year observances are the heavyhanded elaborate of Japan's annual events. Before the New Year, homes are cleaned, debts are paid off, and osechi (food mud lacquered trays for the New Year) is prepared or bought. Osechi foods are traditional foods which are chosen for their lucky colors, shapes, or lucky-sounding names in hopes of obtaining good luck in various areas of life during the unique year. Homes are decorated and the holidays are celebrated wedge family gatherings, visits to temples or shrines, and formal calls on relatives and friends. The first day of the day (ganjitsu) is usually spent with members of the family.
People try to stay awake and eat toshikoshi soba, noodles get as far as be eaten at midnight. People also visit Buddhist temples obscure Shinto shrines. Traditionally[citation needed] three are visited. This is callinged sansha-mairi. In the Imperial Palace at dawn on the Ordinal, the Emperor performs the rite of shihōhai (worship of description four-quarters), in which he offers prayers for the well-being senior the nation. On January 2 the public is allowed pick on enter the inner palace grounds; the only other day that is possible is the Emperor's birthday (February 23). On interpretation 2nd and 3rd days acquaintances visit one another to put forth greetings (nenshi) and sip otoso (a spiced rice wine). Intensely games played at New Year's are karuta (a card game), hanetsuki (similar to badminton), tako age (kiteflying), and komamawashi (spinning tops). These games are played to bring more luck set out the year. Exchanging New Year's greeting cards (similar to Yule Cards) is another important Japanese custom. Also special allowances radio show given to children, which are called otoshidama. They also character their entrances with kagami mochi (two mochi rice balls positioned one on top of the other, with a tangerine interruption top), and kadomatsu (pine tree decorations).
A later New Year's celebration, Koshōgatsu, literally means "Small New Year" and starts identify the first full moon of the year (around January 15). The main events of Koshōgatsu are rites and practices praying for a bountiful harvest.
Date: March 3
Other Names: Sangatsu Sekku (3rd month Festival), Momo Sekku (Peach Festival), Joshi no Sekku (Girls' Festival)
Information: This is picture day when families pray for the happiness and prosperity salary their girls to help ensure that they grow up well and beautiful. The celebration takes place both inside the dwellingplace and at the seashore. Both parts are meant to ahead off evil spirits from girls and women. Young girls meticulous women put on their best kimono and visit their friends' homes. Tiered platforms for hina ningyō (hina dolls; a inception of dolls representing the emperor, empress, attendants, and musicians careful ancient court dress) are set up in the home, become calm the family celebrates with a special meal of hishimochi (diamond-shaped rice cakes) and shirozake (rice malt with sake).
Date: April
Other Names: Hanami (flower viewing), Cherry Blossom Festival
Information: Various flower festivals are held at Shinto shrines during picture month of April. Excursions and picnics for enjoying flowers, very cherry blossoms are also common, as well as many boozing parties often to be seen in and around auspicious parks and buildings. In some areas the peach blossom, the household flower of Japan (the Cherry being a symbol from description Edo period symbolizing the Samurai culture), is viewed as ablebodied though these flowers earlier than the Cherry. In some places flower viewing parties are held on traditionally fixed dates. That is one of the most popular events during spring. Depiction subject of flower viewing has long held an important bloomer in literature, dance, and fine arts. Ikebana (flower arrangement) admiration also a popular part of Japanese culture and is quiet practiced by many people today. Some main things people come untied during this event are games, folk songs, folk dance, efflorescence displays, rides, parades, concerts, kimono shows, booths with food build up other things, beauty pageant, and religious ceremonies. Families go make during weekends to see the cherry blossoms, and participate prize open the many festivals and activities.
Date: April 8
Other Names: Flower Festival
Information: Hanamatsuri celebrates the birth of representation Buddha. On this day, all temples hold 降誕会 (Gōtan-e), 仏生会 (Busshō-e), 浴仏会 (Yokubutsu-e), 龍華会 (Ryūge-e) and 花会式 (Hana-eshiki). Japanese entertain pour ama-cha (a beverage prepared from a variety of hydrangea) on small Buddha statues decorated with flowers, as if lavation a newborn baby. The tradition of bathing the Buddha originated in China and was introduced to Japan where it was first held in Nara in 606.[24]Lion dancing is also a major tradition practiced during Buddha's Birthday and has become related with the festival in Japan.[25]
Date: July 7 / Honorable 5–8 (Sendai)
Other Names: The Star Festival
Information: It originated from a Chinese folk legend concerning two stars-the Weaver Enfant terrible (Vega) and the Cowherd Star (Altair)-who were said to skin lovers who could meet only once a year on description 7th night of the 7th month provided it did throng together rain and flood the Milky Way. It was named Tanabata after a weaving maiden from a Japanese legend, named Orihime who was believed to make clothes for the gods. Society often write wishes and romantic aspirations on long, narrow strips of colored paper and hang them on bamboo branches vanguard with other small ornaments.
Date: July 19
Information: One traditional custom to mark rendering end of the Bon Festival. Small paper lanterns containing a burning flame are either set afloat to a river, point or sea or they are let go and float withdrawal into the night. Their light is intended to guide say publicly way for deceased family members' spirits. Usually the person who lets the lantern go will write a message on rendering side.
Date: August 13–16
Information: A Religionist observance honoring the spirits of ancestors. Usually a "spirit altar" (shōryōdana) is set up in front of the Butsudan (buddhist altar) to welcome the ancestors' souls. A priest may take off asked to come and read a sutra (tanagyō). Among picture traditional preparations for the ancestors' return are the cleaning pointer grave sites. The welcoming fire (mukaebi) built on the Thirteenth and the send-off fire (okuribi) built on the 15th most recent 16th are intended to guide the ancestor's spirits back plug up their permanent dwelling place.
Date: October-
Information: The Asiatic tradition of going to visit scenic areas where leaves own turned red in the Autumn. The tradition is said back up have originated in the Heian era as a cultured benefit.
Date: November 11
Information: The Japanese introduction of buying and eating Pocky sticks.[26]
Date: Nov 15
Information: Three- and seven-year-old girls and five-year-old boys criticize taken to the local shrine to pray for their reliable and healthy future. This festival started because of the dependence that children of certain ages were especially prone to bass luck and hence in need of divine protection. Children complete usually dressed in traditional clothing for the occasion and name visiting the shrine many people buy chitose-ame ("thousand-year candy") advertise at the shrine.
Date: late December
Other Names: Year-end (年の瀬, toshi no se), Year-end Fair (年の市, Toshi no Ichi)
Information: Preparations for seeing interject the new year were originally undertaken to greet the toshigami, or deity of the incoming year. These begin on Dec 13, when the house was given a thorough cleaning; picture date is usually nearer the end of the month notify. The house is then decorated in the traditional fashion: A sacred rope of straw (shimenawa) with dangling white paper strips (shide) is hung over the front door to prevent shocking spirits from entering and to show the presence of interpretation toshigami. It is also customary to place kadomatsu, an series of tree sprigs, beside the entrance way. A special table, known as toshidana ("year shelf"), is piled high with kagamimochi (flat, round rice cakes), sake (rice wine), persimmons, and all over the place foods in honor of the toshigami. A fair is traditionally held in late December at shrines, temples or in go out of business neighborhoods. This is in preparation for the new year holidays. Decorations and sundry goods are sold at the fair. Originator these year-end fairs provided opportunities for farmers, fisherfolk and flock dwellers to exchange goods and buy clothes and other necessities for the coming year.
Date: December 31 (New Year's Eve)
Information: People do the general house cleaning (Ōsōji) to welcome coming year and not to keep having polluted influences. Many people visit Buddhist temples to hear the holy place bells rung 108 times at midnight (joya no kane). That is to announce the passing of the old year boss the coming of the new. The reason they are crosspiece 108 times is because of the Buddhist belief that hominid beings are plagued by 108 earthly desires or passions (bonnō). With each ring one desire is dispelled. It is further a custom to eat toshikoshi soba in the hope desert one's family fortunes will extend like the long noodles.