Yamaga Lantern Festival

What Is the Yamaga Lantern Festival?

Held as the festival of Omiya Shrine in Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture, mainly on August 15th and 16th each year, the "Yamaga Lantern Festival" is a mesmerizing event in which women balance gold lanterns -- crafted from washi paper and a touch of glue -- on their heads and dance to the folk song "Yoheho-bushi."

A Legend Involving Emperor Keiko

The origins of the Yamaga Lantern Festival are said to trace back to a legend involving a royal procession by Emperor Keiko, Japan's 12th emperor.

• The legend: when Emperor Keiko's procession was blocked by thick fog, the villagers of Yamaga are said to have raised torches to guide him safely through
• An offering to the shrine: in honor of this story, villagers enshrined Emperor Keiko and began a yearly custom of offering light to him
• From torches to lanterns: around the Muromachi period, the original torches were replaced with lanterns crafted from washi paper
• Another theory: some say the custom began in the Muromachi period, when lanterns were offered in memory of the priest Yūmyō Hōin, who was credited with making Yamaga's hot springs flow again

The Festival's Highlight: The "Thousand Lantern Dance"

The festival's biggest highlight is the "Thousand Lantern Dance," held on the night of August 16th. Women in yukata, balancing gold lanterns on their heads, perform an elegant dance amid a dreamlike glow. Made entirely from washi paper without any wood or nails, the Yamaga lanterns are also highly regarded as a traditional craft.

"Agari-dōrō": Lanterns Carried at Midnight

The votive lanterns that each neighborhood commissions from lantern artisans are displayed on street corners on the 15th. Then, at midnight on the 17th, they are carried to Omiya Shrine to cries of "Hāi, tōrō!" This procession, called "agari-dōrō," brings the festival to a close.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Visit Yamaga City in person to see the mesmerizing lantern dance
• Learn about the washi paper craftsmanship behind the Yamaga lanterns
• Learn about the legend of Emperor Keiko and the history of Omiya Shrine
• Listen to "Yoheho-bushi" and other folk songs tied to the festival

A Fantastical Summer Night, Lit by a Single Sheet of Washi Paper

The soft glow of lanterns made entirely from washi paper -- no wood, no nails -- is a crystallization of centuries of craftsmanship and the prayers of the local villagers. Let August 15th be a chance to reflect on the fantastical story of light that colors the summer nights of Kumamoto.