Founding of Johana Hikiyama.pdf · 2019-07-04 · Johana Hikiyama Festival was designated an...
Transcript of Founding of Johana Hikiyama.pdf · 2019-07-04 · Johana Hikiyama Festival was designated an...
Founding of Johana
Johana Hikiyama Festival was designated an Important
Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 2002 as a
parade float festival of the Johana Shinmei Shrine.
In 1559, Zentoku-ji, a Jodo Shinshu temple in
Fukumitsu, was relocated to Johana, under the
guidance of Johana Castle lord Araki Taizen. Markets
were opened in front of the temple and a temple town
was established. The population grew and silk
production flourished.
In 1574, the Johana Shinmei Shrine was built as the
guardian for a local god, and the main buildings were
rebuilt in 1685, at which point spring and fall festivals
had begun. In 1693, the population reached 686
households totaling 3809 people, and the townscape
had been gradually developed.
Origin and Development of the Hikiyama Festival
At this time, Johana prospered as a center for silk production. Through economic exchange with
Kyoto, the culture of this period, Genroku, flourished as well. However, the economy fell into a
recession during the Kyoho era (1716-1736). In order to overcome the recession, locals began to
enshrine gods to pray for prosperity and rid the area of evil spirits.
In 1717, a portable shrine was created and a parade including the lion dance and kasaboko float
took place for the first time. At the festival held on August 15th, 1719, hikiyama floats were
constructed, eventually becoming a part of the portable shrine procession in 1724.
Zentoku-ji Temple
The historic atmosphere of Johana has been preserved to this day
Traditional weaving techniques have been passed
down at local studios
Hikiyama festivals soon gained popularity in other
areas, but an uproar took place over the floats among
Takaoka, Hoshozu (Shinminato), Johana, and Isurugi,
stemming from assertions in similarities between the
floats. Production and use of ya-guruma wheels, a cart
style with two wheels, became prohibited outside of
Takaoka. As a result, the Johana floats were replaced
with four-wheeled carts, known as danjiri. With the
limitations on use of hikiyama wheels in Johana, locals
began putting in even more effort to produce new god
statues and decorations for the hikiyama floats.
Yamayado
The protective god of each of the six neighborhoods is placed on a hikiyama float. On the
afternoon before the eve of the festival, these deity statues, weighing approximately 100
kilograms, are brought down from the hikiyama floats and carried into the Japanese-style, tatami
mat rooms of designated homes. Homes in which the gods are kept on the eve of the festival are
known as “yamayado.” The tradition for the yamayado is to decorate the deity and open up the
In the Bunsei era (1818-1830), Johana silk was shipped to the Edo region, and with the influence
of Kasei culture, iori-yatai floats with accompaniment music were added, making the festival
even more elegant. However, the festival was discontinued several times from the end of the Edo
era to the early Meiji era, due to social unrest. Within these circumstances, following the
implementation of the solar calendar in 1873, the festival was rescheduled for May 15th.
Furthermore, in 2006, the date was changed to May 5th. The hikiyama and iyori-yatai float
decorations have since become more and more luxurious, passed down to the present day.
Johana Hikiyama Festival at night
"Yamayado" at Nishikami-machi "Yamayado" at Higashishimo-machi
Parade of portable shrines
A significant feature of the Johana Hikiyama
Festival is that the original setup has been
maintained to this day, as follows. Three portable
shrines, representing Kasuga, Iwashimizu, and
Shinmeigu, are led by the lion dance, kenboko,
eight kasaboko, and flags of four gods. The
preservation of the original style is a major reason
for the festival`s designation as an Important
Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Kenboko is a ritual article that drives away evil spirits
and negative energy. The kenboko of Shin-machi is put
on the pedestal of a two-wheel wagon with the Daijin
Shrine flag.
home for public viewing. Early morning on the day of the festival, the deity statues are taken out
from the yamayado and placed once again on top of the hikiyama floats, which are then
transported to Johana Betsuin Zentoku-ji Temple, the departure point for the procession.
Lion Dance and Kenboko
The lion dance and kenboko share the role of
leading the portable shrines in the parade.
According to religious beliefs, lions have the
power of appeasing evil spirits that threaten
human lives. The Minami-machi lion dance
brings in the portable shrines to the otabisho,
a temporary shrine for welcoming the gods
during the festival, and then sends them back
off to the Shinmei Shrine after the parade.
Lion dance
Portable shrine
Kenboko
Kasaboko and Four Gods Flags
The kasaboko, religious objects that welcome divine spirits
from the heavens, lead the portable shrines in the parade.
Each kasaboko represents the faith of the respective
neighborhood. There are eight kasabokos in total, one each
from Higashikami-machi, Nishikami-machi,
Higashishimo-machi, Nishishimo-machi, Daiku-machi,
Demaru-machi, Shin-machi and Noge-machi. Each has a
unique, elegant decoration on the umbrella-shaped top.
The kasaboko of Shin-machi, constructed in 1781, is
decorated with a Japanese hand drum and cherry blossom
branch, set on a small box. The decoration of the Noge-machi
kasaboko consists of a Japanese drum, horn, and Chinese
moon guitar, with an overall Chinese style.
Iori-yatai and Iori-uta
The iori-yatai floats, designed like ichirikijaya, the teahouse of Gion, Kyoto, and high-end
restaurants of the Edo Yoshiwara region, lead the hikiyama floats in the festival. Inside the
ichirikijaya float, 10 young men play iori-uta songs as the float parades around the town.
The four gods flags represent the gods that govern the
cardinal directions and corresponding constellations.
Suzaku is the southern god, Genbu is the northern god,
Seiryu is the eastern god, and Byakko represents the
western god. Each flag used to be held up by four
children, yet in modern days, the four flags are placed on
the wagon to proceed in front of the portable shrines in
the parade.
Enjoy listening to the iori-uta songs
Four gods flags
Kasaboko
Iori-yatai
n
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Iori-uta are short love songs rich with Edo flavor, originating from the playful spirits of Johana
predecessors. These songs make listeners feel as if they were being entertained in high-end
Japanese style restaurants.
“Mawari-ai” and “saki-bayashi” are played during the procession of the iori-yatai in the parade,
“yasumi-bayashi” is played sometimes during breaks, and “hon-bayashi” is played when the
iori-yatai reaches the otabisho, a temporary shrine for welcoming the gods during the festival. All
of these songs are unique to Johana, with elegant rhythms made by the manipulation of the delicate
sounds of the shamisen and Japanese flute. Iori-uta performances by young men, known as
wakarenju, are very popular as they showcase the unique attributes of local culture
Hikiyama Floats
The 6 deity statues, after being displayed in
the “yamado,” are placed on top of the 6
meter tall hikiyama floats on the morning of
May 5, to be paraded throughout the town.
These gorgeous floats, featuring Johana
lacquer and Inami woodcarving, are truly
like moving works of art. One can sense the
prosperity of the Johana silk industry
through the beauty of these floats. The giant
wheels that hold the hikiyama floats are
referred to as “gyuuyama” by locals, due to
the creaking sound made while turning. This
sound, made intentionally by turning the
thin cypress boards, is thought to rid the
town of evil spirits. On the evening of May
5, lanterns are attached to the floats. This
mystical scene, contrasting with the festival
during the day, is known as “chochinyama.”
Chochinyama at night
Hikiyama floats