Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri
Seasonal EventsWhat Is the Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri?
The Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri is a festival held each year around December 17th at Wakamiya Shrine, an auxiliary shrine of Kasuga Taisha in Nara. It is said to have been started in 1136 by the regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi and has continued without a break for over 870 years. In 1979 its ritual performing arts were designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
From a Midnight Transfer to a Midday Procession
December 17th runs from the small hours to late at night. At midnight, the Senko-no-gi transfers the Wakamiya deity to the temporary shrine; from noon, the Owatari-shiki procession winds through Nara.
- Where: Wakamiya Shrine, an auxiliary shrine of Kasuga Taisha, Nara
- Origin: said to have been founded in 1136 by the regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi
- Senko-no-gi: held at midnight on December 17th, with all lighting and all photography or filming forbidden
- Owatari-shiki: a procession from noon, with performers making their way around Nara Park
- Otabisho-sai: from 2:30 p.m. into the night, kagura, bugaku and other ancient arts are dedicated
A Rite Performed with the Lights Out
The midnight transfer takes place in complete darkness, with even the street lamps switched off. Because photography and filming are banned, no record of it exists. Only those present experience it -- through the sound of the torches and the sense of movement in the dark.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Look up what kagura and bugaku, the arts dedicated here, actually involve
- Read how a festival running over 870 years has been sustained locally
- Find out whether your own area has a festival centuries old
- Research winter sights around Nara Park and sketch out a trip
The Tradition of Never Breaking the Chain
Through wars and disasters, the On-Matsuri has been held for more than 870 consecutive years. December 17th shows a particular form of tradition -- one where simply continuing, every single year, is itself the achievement.