Tengu matsuri festivals

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. Tengupedia - 天狗ペディア　- Tengu ABC-Index .
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Tengu matsuri　天狗祭り Tengu festivals


Shimokita tengu matsuri しもきた天狗まつり - Shimokitazawa, Tokyo


Dontsuku Festival, Inatori City with Tengu lanterns (MS)
Tengu matsuri 天狗まつり - Osaka, Saiko-Ji
Otaru 小樽天狗まつり　Hokkaido
Donki 鈍器祭り　Toyokawa


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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .



................................................................................. Fukui 福井県　

Tengu matsuri 天狗祭 Tengu festival
During a local Tengu festival, someone put a glass of Sake 酒 rice wine on a branch of the tree. And a few days later, the Sake had all gone . . . Tengu like to drink!

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美浜町新庄 Mihama Shinjo

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Hassaku Festival 八朔祭
Hassaku means August 1 according to the lunar calendar.
At the Hassaku Festival of the 日吉神社 Hiyoshi Shrine located in Shinjo, young men pray for a good harvest and run all over carrying the barrel mikoshi portable shrine and singing the Hassaku Ondo. They then dedicate it to the shrine. Moreover, the main attraction of the festival is the Riot Tengu (a long-nosed goblin).
The Tengu chases after young women and children by showing “the symbol of a man” slightly from his clothes. The symbol is made of wood.
It is said to be the most unusual festival in Fukui Prefecture.
- source : nihon-kankou.or.jp.e.wp.hp.transer.com/fukui... -



八朔とは旧暦8月朔日のことで、月遅れの９月１日を指します。美浜町新庄の日吉神社では、その９月１日に八朔(はっさく)祭が行われます。村を東と西に分け、午前は東で午後は西がそれぞれ行います。
朱塗りの大角樽を棒に吊り下げ、担ぎながら神前に奉納するとき、オドケと呼ばれる仮装した青年も行列に参加し、天狗がその先頭をつとめます。「山神句」といわれる音頭に笛や太鼓で囃しながら行列を組んで村中を練り歩きます。「今年豊年穂に穂が咲いて、道の千草も米がなる」と八朔音頭を唄います。
天狗は大きな木製の男根を持ち、見物人の女性にその男根をつきつけます。それに触れると良い子どもがうまれると言われており、かつては八朔襦袢(はっさくじゅばん)といわれる軽装一枚で暴れまわり、樽にはドブロクを詰めて供えてみんなに振舞っていたので、「ドブロク祭」とも言われていました。
この美浜町新庄の八朔祭は、福井県内では、"一番エッチな祭"だといわれています。
午前も午後も天狗が飛び出して暴れまわり、衣の間に木でこしられた長さ５０ｃｍ、太さ８ｃｍほどの「男のシンボル」をちらつかせながら、見物している女性や、子どもを追っかけまわす、 天狗が持つ男根で突いてもらうと 良い児が生まれて稲の花がつつがなく交配され、今年は豊年万作である」と昔の人たちは考えていたのだと思います。天狗がちらつかせながら女性たちをつつきまわる "男のシンボル"に、今年の豊作の願いをこめているのです。
- reference source : wakasamihama.jp/kankou... -

. hassaku 八朔 first day of the eighth month .
of the lunar calendar



................................................................................. Gifu 岐阜県　
養老郡 Yoro district

In the village 瀬村 Semura they prepare a large mask of a Tengu for the festival and carry it around the village, beating drums and gongs and walk deep into the forest.
This will appease the Tengu, who had come to eat humans and animals and caused great damage in former times.




................................................................................. Ibaraki　茨城県　
笠間市 Kasama

Akutai Matsuri 悪態まつり Akutai festival "cursing festival"
Atago Shrine, 102 Izumi, Kasama



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Welcome to the annual cursing festival in Ibaraki Prefecture, where young and old are encouraged to verbally abuse 13 monks dressed as tengu (long-nosed goblin). Meanwhile, the people gathered around the tengu have a tug-of-war over what looks like a bamboo mat used to roll sushi with a small prize inside. Whoever manages to pry the mat from the other desperate contestants’ hands, according to the Atago shrine, will be lucky in the year to come.
Cursing is welcome here, so spit all that stress out on the last days of the year.
- source : savvytokyo.com/10... -



................................................................................. Ishikawa 石川県　
白峰村 Shiramine mura (Hakusan)

5月の初旬に天狗祭をする。天狗の造り物に袖のある大きな夜着を着せるのだが、ある村で産婦の夜着を用いたら、大風となって騒動になった。その後その村では天狗祭をしなくなった。

. kanko odori かんこ踊 Kanko dance, in honor of Saint Taicho .
Hakusanboo　白山坊 Hakusan-Bo, Hakusanbo Tengu


................................................................................. Kagawa 香川県　

. Sakaide 坂出の天狗まつり Tengu Festival in Sakaide .
centered on Saganbo Tengu, a long-nosed goblin from Mount Shiramine near Sakaide.



Bowls of udon うどん hot wheat noodles with ten no gu (ten kinds of ingredients) are available at every festival site.



................................................................................. Saitama 埼玉県　

. Chichibu 秩父 Tengoo matsuri 天狗祭（テンゴー祭り） Tengo (Tengu) Festival .
原の天狗まつり Hara no Tengu Matsuri



................................................................................. Shimane 島根県　

. The Tengu of 枕木山 Mount Makuragisan .
and 華蔵寺 the Temple Kezo-Ji



................................................................................. Tokyo　東京　

Hachioji Tengu Matsuri 八王子天狗祭




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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -

- Reference -

国境の芸能と天狗信仰：一　天狗祭り
八木洋行 Yagi Yoko

秩父における天狗祭
浅見清一郎

天狗祭り
木内一夫


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. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .

. - yookai, yōkai 妖怪 Yokai monsters - .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. Mingei 民芸　Regional Folk　Art from Japan .

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oni matsuri festivals

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. Onipedia - 鬼ペディア　- Oni Demons - ABC-List - .
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oni matsuri 鬼祭り Oni Demon Festivals



There are many festivals involving the local ONI of Japan.

- oni gyooretsu 鬼行列 Oni gyoretsu, Demon Parade
- - - - - . Shuten Doji Festival 酒呑童子行列 and Demon Parade .

. yatai to oni 屋台と鬼　Oni decorations on festival floats .

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setsubun 節分 seasonal divide - driving out the local Oni

. Onibashiri 鬼走 running demons for Setsubun .
- and Oni eshiki 鬼会式 Demon Festival and Ritual



. Namahage なまはげ　Demons from Akita .

. Onigo Matsuri 鬼子祭り "Demon Boys Festival" .
..... Kokuseki-Ji Naked Man Festival 黒石裸祭 Kuroishi Festival

. oniyo 鬼夜 "demon's night" fire festival .
..... Daizenji Town, Kurume, Fukuoka

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kiraigoo 鬼来迎 ki raigo - Demons coming down to Earth
and oni mai 鬼舞 Demon Dance


source : yokoshibahikari.jp/kiraigou/kiraigo

Temple 広済寺 Kosai-Ji
千葉県山武郡横芝光町虫生 / Musho, Yokoshibahikari, Sanbu District, Chiba
Ritual on August 16

. raigō, raigoo 来迎 "welcoming approach" .
Amida Buddha coming down to welcome a new soul

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Oniyama sakura matsuri 鬼山桜まつり Sakura Festival at Oniyama Demon Mountain
Misaki town 美咲町打穴中地区 Okayama

. Momotaro Legend in Misaki Town 三咲町の桃太郎伝説 .

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- quote -
The Japanese Festival Where Demons Beat Up Kids with Sticks


- CLICK for more photos !

In a small town in Hiroshima called 小屋浦 Koyaura, the third weekend of every October is the autumn festival. A festival the children of the town dread.
..... Terrifying demons known as マッカ（赤鬼）‘Makka’ (all red) chase the children of the town and when he catches them they get a savage hit with a stick.
Sometimes the demon will also attempt to kidnap the child.
The only thing that can abate the demon is if the child promises to be good from now on. Parents even willingly give their child up to be beaten and kidnapped.
This tradition, native to Koyaura is over 100 years old. ...
- source : grapee.jp/en... -


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. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .

............................................................................ Aichi 愛知県

In Aichi (Mikawa 三河) there are many oni matsuri オニマツリ, all held on the 15th day of the New Year.
At the shrine Boo jinja 某神社 Bo Jinja in 豊橋市東八丁 Toyohashi
At 三河幡豆郡某村 Mikawa Hazugun in various villages
In Nagoya the さねさこ祭 Sanesako Matsuri.
This timing is related to the Sagicho fire rituals.
. sagichoo 左義長 Sagicho Rituals .

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名古屋市 Nagoya 熱田区 Atsuta

. 大薬師の鬼祭 "Festival of the Demons of Yakushi Nyorai" .
高蔵不動院 Takakura Fudo-In

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豊橋 Toyohashi

Toyohashi Oni Matsuri 豊橋鬼祭
豊橋市の安久美神戸神明社 Akumi-Kambe Shinmeisha - on February 10 and 11
豊橋神明社


masks of Tengu (L), Kuro-oni (C) and Aka-oni (R)

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The Demon Festival has been carried on since around 940 in the Heian period (794-1192)
and was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1980.
On the festival eve (Feb.10), it's started with Iwato-no-mai dance.
The heros and heroines of this day are boys and girls.
The main event of this festival is called "Aka-oni to Tengu no Karakai /rivalry between Aka-oni (Red Demon) and Tengu (long-nosed goblin)".
(literal meaning of karakai is raillery, but it's totally rivalry)
The story performed by the red demon and Tengu has come from Japanese mythology.
A destructive god ( Susanoo-no-mikoto = red demon) appeared in Takamagahara (lit. "high heavenly plain", where gods live) and destroyed the granaries.
A god of martial arts (Sarutahiko-no-mikoto = Tengu) fought to chasten and straighten him out.
Then all the gods felt happy and danced kagura.
People innovated dengaku performances, which soaked up this story, to a Shinto ritual festival, and to pray for a rich harvest and prosperity.
Aka-oni walks zigzag (Zigzag walking symbolizes lightning. Lightning is caused by Oni on a cloud by the Japanese folk tales)
***
During the climax of this festival,
Red Demon repeatedly provokes battle with Tengu, but is defeated.
He escapes from the shrine yard and runs around the town scattering tankiri-ame (candies made from grain powders) and white grain powder over the visitors to drive out the evil.
Kuro-oni (Black Devil = Ame-no-koyame-no-mikoto of the mythology) fills the role of judge.
It is said that if you are showered with this powder or eat tankiri-ame, you will not get ill during the summer.
Lots of visitors are excited to get tankiri-ame and a powder shower.
- Details of the festival and photos :
- source : kikuko-nagoya.com/html/onimatsuri-toyohashi-



- More masks from the Oni Festival and Aichi
- reference source : tees.ne.jp/~itsukit/Gallery2... -

. Tengu from Aichi .

赤鬼と天狗のからかい Aka-Oni and Tengu having a bout
- - - - - Link with many photos :
- reference source : toyohashionimatsuri.web... -

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岡崎市 Okazaki

滝山寺鬼祭 Takisan-Ji Oni Matsuri
愛知県岡崎市滝町山籠107 / Yamagomori-107 Takichō, Okazaki-shi, Aichi



Three Oni masks of 婆面　Grandmother, 爺面　Grandfather and 孫面　Grandchild Demon





............................................................................ Ehime 愛媛県
北宇和郡 Kitauwa district 吉田町 Yoshida

. Uwajima Ushi-oni matsuri 宇和島牛鬼祭り Uwajima Ushi-oni festival .



............................................................................ Miyazaki 宮崎県

. Onioi matsuri, oni-oi matsuri　鬼追い祭り .
at Kumano shrine 熊野神社, Soo town 曽於市, Miyazaki


............................................................................ Saga 佐賀県
藤津郡 Fujitsu district 太良町 Tara

竹崎観世音寺修正会鬼祭 At the temple Takezaki Kanzeon-Ji
佐賀県藤津郡太良町大字大浦甲竹崎248

Te 修正会 Shusho-E ritual in the night of the fifth day of the New Year.
Demons who live on the sea off Takezaki and the demon masks which are kept prisoner in a box (onibako 鬼箱) in the Kannon Hall try to get out on the fifth day of the New Year and call out to each other to overthrow the island. To prevent this, the villagers have to shout even louder to protect their island - the orabigoe おらび声 heavenly voice.
The villagers are only clad in a fundoshi ふんどし loincloth, so this is a famous hadaka matsuri 裸祭 naked vestival.


If someone opens this Onibako, hes eyes will get sick soon or he will get a high fever. So nobody ever dared to open this box.


diashooboo, osaki ダイショウボウ，オサキ
竹崎観音堂で毎年陰暦の１月５日の夜から６日にかけてお粉荒れる鬼祭りで用いられるダイショウボウ（樫の生木の棒）は、夜道に杖として使うと俗耳には聞えないダイショウ、ダイショウ、という叫びによってオサキなどの妖魔を退散させる。この棒を取ったものは一年中降伏にみまわれる。

。竹崎地区の未婚の未婚の若者男子は「鬼之忌屋」という若者宿に入り、既婚男子は宿老宿に入る。若者組からは4名の鬼副（オンゼイ）が選ばれる。追儺の行法の鬼追い、童子舞などに特色がある。

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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -

- books -
柳星甫 : 鬼祭
伊藤一郎 : 佐賀県大浦村竹崎観音堂の鬼祭

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. Onipedia - 鬼ペディア　- Oni Demons - ABC-List - .

. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .

. - yookai, yōkai 妖怪 Yokai monsters - .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. Mingei 民芸　Regional Folk Art from Japan .

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Jozankei Hokkaido

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- KAPPA - 河童 / かっぱ /　カッパ - ABC-Index -
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- Jozankei Hokkaido　定山渓 北海道 -

This onsen hot spring resort is now having Kappa everywhere. The most important one is the

Kappa Dai-O, Daio 河童大王/ かっぱ大王 Great King Kappa



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The town has a map with 24 Kappa figures to find while taking a walk.

- quote
There is a "legend of Kappa" in Jozankei hot springs.
And Kappa is a mascot of Jozankei. "Kappa road" was named for "Kappa" and also there is a "Kappa" designed drinking fountain. Do you know there is a openwork "Kappa" on handrail of Tsukimi-bridge over Toyohira River?
Fairy tale kappa statues which are seen everywhere in the hotspring town are based on ideas given by residents of Sapporo, and made by sculptors from both inside and outside of Hokkaido .
Enjoy walking, guessing what kind of "kappa" you will run into...



Until the Choshiguchi hydroelectric power plant was built in 1908, the water flow of the Toyohira River was big enough to wash out logs (for straight-grained boards) of the interior of the mountain down the river. There were also many big river fishes inhabited everywhere in the deep channels. Around that time, there was a young boy, named a Mr. Seyama, who was working for road works. When he was fishing by one of the deep pools of the river, all of sudden he was sucked down into the bottom of the river, even though he did not miss his footing. Villagers who were working to wash out the logs down the river saw the boy being sucked into the river, and immediately jumped into the river to try to rescue him.

But the river was so deep that they could not rescue him, and at the end the days passed without being able to find the boy. A year later, on the night of the first memorial service for the boy, the young boy appeared in his father’s dream and said, “I am living happily with a water goblin wife and a child.” The most handsome boy in the village was probably charmed by the goblin wife living in the river. Since then, the area has been called as the goblin’s pool, and there has been no one who goes missing.



- - - - - Check out the 24 Kappa statues here :
- source : jozankei.jp/en/about/kappa




かっぱ太郎 Kappa Taro
near the hot foot bath 足のふれあい太郎の湯


定山渓温泉街の二見公園にある像。
昭和40年（1965年）に始まったかっぱ祭りの主体となるものをと、おおば比呂司のアイディアとデザインにより作成したもの。昭和41年（1966年）第2回かっぱ祭りの際に設置。
かっぱ大王像
かっぱ妹子（いもこ）　Kappa Imoko
カッパーマン Kappaaman
city.sapporo.jp/minami

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Kappa Ema 定山渓河童絵馬 votive tablet



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- quote
Some say the Kappa is of Ainu origin, . . .
The Ainu, Japan’s earliest inhabitants, live primarily in Hokkaido, the northernmost island, and their folklore is rich in imagery and monsters. Near Sapporo, the main city in Hokkaido, is an area called Jozankei, home to the “Great Kappa King” and the “Kappa Buchi Legend.” However, the Jozankei legends are probably not of Ainu origin.
According to the Angelfire web site:
The Ainu believe in a magical connection between trees and humans. For example, when a certain tree is cut down a girl will die. They feel that willows are like living humans and make miniature sacrificial willows from willow peelings (see also Willoughby-Meade, Chinese Ghouls and Goblins for more). The Ainu are also known for their Shamanistic beliefs and practices (perhaps of Siberian origin).
... Ainu tales ... One story in the collection is called The Old Man of the Sea (Atui Koro Ekashi). It describes an ocean monster able to swallow ships and whales.

The symbol of Jozankei Valley is the Kappa, the water sprite.
Jozankei (valley) 定山渓温泉　is a hot spring area and spa near Toyohiragawa River in southwest Sapporo (Hokkaido). Called "Sapporo's Back Parlor," the spa is surrounded by mountains, and was discovered by a monk called Jozan, and named after this monk for the efforts he made to develop it. The Kappa is the guardian spirit of the area. Local legend tells of a young boy who fell into a deep pool, where he was taken to the land of the Kappa, and lived happily thereafter. Approximately 23 Kappa stand in various poses around the spa town, including the Great Kappa King. There is also a Kappa Pool, which becomes very lively during the Kappa Festival that takes place in early August.

Kappa-Buchi (Kappa Pool) Legend in Jozankei　定山渓
According to local folklore, a young man was fishing in a deep pool in Jozankei, but fell in and never surfaced. Months later he appeared in his father's dreams to say he was living happily with the Kappa, and his Kappa wife and child. The pool is named “Kappa-buchi," or kappa pool, in light of this legend.
- source : Mark Schumacher

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Kappon かっぽん 定山渓温泉 Jozankei hot spring

. Kappon かっぽん - 定山渓 Kappa Mascot .

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Jozankei Kappa Festival 定山渓河童まつり / かっぱ祭り / 定山渓カッパまつり

The annual“Kappa Week” in early August
Various events and "Kappa food" at many places.





定山渓かっぱのやわらかたまごサブレ Tamago Sabure bisquits




「キュウリエキス配合」の「定山渓温泉カッパの湯」
hot spring extract with cucumber

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At Jozankei, they run a Momiji Kappa Bus during the autumn season.
momiji kappa basu 「紅葉かっぱバス」
. momiji kappa basu 「紅葉かっぱバス」in Jozankei .

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定山渓雪の階下り湯のホテル
Jozankei yuki no kai kudari yu no hoteru

Jozankei -
down to the Snow Floor
at the Hot Spring Hotel

Watanabe Shiori 渡辺しおり

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. - - - Join my Kappa friends on facebook ! - - - .

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. Kappa densetsu　河童伝説, Kappa minwa 河童民話 - Legends - Introduction .

. - yookai, yōkai 妖怪 Yokai monsters - .


. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. Mingei 民芸　Regional Folk　Art from Japan .

- #jozankei #josankei -
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mahoroba

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- KAPPA - 河童 / かっぱ /　カッパ - Legends -
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- mahoroba まほろば a place of peace and bliss - and Kappa -




吉野ヶ里遺跡古代浪漫紀行1-まほろば大和
- source : ニヤッとする話

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- quote
Mahoroba is an ancient Japanese word describing a far-off land full of bliss and peace. It is roughly comparable to the western concepts of arcadia, a place surrounded by mountains full of harmony and quiet.

Mahoroba is now written only in hiragana as まほろば. The origins of the word are not clear; it is described in a poem in the ancient Kojiki (古事記) as being the perfect place in Yamato:

Yamato wa Kuni no mahoroba Tatanazuku
Aokaki-yama gomoreru Yamato shi uruwashi.

夜麻登波
久爾能麻本呂婆
多多那豆久
阿袁加岐 夜麻碁母禮流
夜麻登志宇流波斯

- - - Modern writing
大和は国のまほろばたたなづく青垣山ごもれる大和しうるわし

- - - Meaning
大和は本当に素晴らしい。青い山々の連なる大和は本当に美しいなあ。

Yamato is
The highest part of the land;
The mountains are green partitions
Lying layer upon layer,
Nestled among the mountains,
How beautiful is Yamato !
Tr. Michael Marra

- source : wikipedia




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まほろば河童まつり Mahoroba Kappa Matsuri


- source : www.takahata-bunka.jp


「松川の河童伝説」Matsukawa no Kappa Densetsu　
. Yamagata 山形県 Mahoroba Kappa Festival .

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. . . CLICK here for Photos !

- reference -


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芦屋市はわがまほろばよ燗熱く
Ashiya shi wa waga mahoroba kan atsuku

the town of Ashiya
is my land of bliss -
the sake flask is warm

For the NHK Haiku Okoku meeting in December she had invited the participants to the Kyoshi Memorial Museum in Ashiya.
She had ordered the caretakers not to sweep the leaves of the large keyaki zelkova tree and all could walk and enjoy the crunching sound of the yellow leaves on the ground.

. WKD - Inahata Teiko 稲畑汀子 - Haiku Master .
- Introduction -


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まほろばの吉備津の神の青嵐
mahoroba no Kibitsu no kami no ao arashi

a summer storm
for the gods of Kibitsu,
the land of bliss

Kurata Koobun 倉田紘文 Kurata Kobun (1940 - 2014)


Kibitsu Jinja 吉備津神社
Kibitsu Hiko Jinja 吉備津彦神社
. Okayama Kibij　岡山　吉備路 The Kibi Region .
an area with majestic ancient history and legendary stories.


. WKD - ao-arashi 青嵐 "green tempest", summer storm .

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. - - - Join my Kappa friends on facebook ! - - - .

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. Kappa densetsu　河童伝説, Kappa minwa 河童民話 - Legends - Introduction .

. Mingei 民芸　Regional Folk　Art from Japan .

- #kappa -
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Ushiku Ibaraki

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- KAPPA - 河童 / 合羽　/ かっぱ /　カッパ - ABC-Index -
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- Ushiku 牛久 in Ibaraki -

- quote
Ushiku (牛久市 Ushiku-shi)
The city was founded on June 1, 1986, and is home to one of the world's tallest statues, the Ushiku Daibutsu. Additional attractions include Chateau Kamiya, a wine chateau started in 1901, and Lake Ushiku, a scenic lake that is said to be the birthplace of the mythical Kappa (folklore) beast.
- source : wikipedia


CLICK for more photos of the lake !

Ushikunuma, Ushiku-Numa 牛久沼 Lake Ushiku, Ushiku swamp

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Ushiku no Kappa Matsu 牛久のカッパ松 The Pine Tree and the Kappa

Once upon a time
a young man from the village was in danger of being pulled into the pond by a Kappa.
The villagers choose the strongest of their men to fight the Kappa for good. So they searched for the Kappa, pulled him out of the pond and bound him to a pine tree near by with the intention to kill him.



But the Kappa began to cry and excuse himself for his bad behavior so far. He promised never to hurt people again.
So the villagers let him go after all.
But from this time on nobody has ever drowned in this pond again.

- source : Dino Toy Museum


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Kappa ni moratta takaramono かっぱにもらった宝物 a treasure from the Kappa
The place of this folktale is 結城郡八千代町 Ibaraki, Yuki-gun, Yachio-machi

How someone earned great fortune from a man-eating Kappa through a fake letter

Once upon a time
A man went to do some shopping in town and had to pass the 釈迦沼 Shakanuma swamp near Yuki. The surroundings of the swamp were overgrown with wild plants but suddenly a small boy appeared and gave the man a letter, asking him to hand it over to a man at the 飯沼 Iinuma swamp near 八千代村 Yashio Village.

The gentle man promised to deliver the letter. The boy had asked him to clap his hands three times when he reached Iinuma swamp and then disappeared. The man found this rather strange but then he went on his way, hoping to deliver the letter.

As he continued his way, he met a Yamabushi mountain priest 法印様 (山伏) who told him, there was the sign of death on his face. The man trusted the priest and told him about the letter from the child. When the priest  opened the letter, there was nothing written on it at all. It was just a white piece of paper.

But when the priest  dipped the letter into the river water, letters appeared.
""This man looks quite delicious! Please eat him right away!"
The letters were written with orange pumpkin soup.
The child that our good man hat met at the Shakanuma swamp was in fact the Kappa of this swamp, and he was now in danger of being eaten by another Kappa.

The good man was very frightened, now he could not go back passing the Shakanuma swamp without being detected by the boy Kappa - there was no way to flee. He asked the Mountain priest  for help.
The priest took the stem of a pumpkin plant and with its liquid dripping out re-wrote the words of the letter.
Then he handed it back to the good man.




The good man was very grateful, thanked the priest and was soon on his way to Iinuma swamp. He clapped his hands three times and suddenly a rather eerie young man appeared. The young man seemed to already know the contents of the letter and grasped if fast from the man.
But when he began to read the words that the Priest had written, he seemed surprised:

"This good man has saved my life, please give his a treasure to show your gratitude!"

The young man read the letter again and again and even asked if this was the real letter he had been handed over. "Sure this is the original letter!"
Finally the young man in an angry mood pulled out a treasure from his breast pocket. It was a small hand mill made from stone 石の挽き臼. He threw it in front of the good man and disappeared hastily into the swamp.

When the man reached home this evening, he immediately began to try this hand mill
and - to his great surprise - grains of rice began to flow out of the hand mill.
Thanks to the present from the Kappa, our good man now could eat rice every day and lead a prosperous life.
The End.

source:　Higano Tokuhisa 日向野徳久
茨城の民話 第二集（日本の民話72），日向野徳久，未来社，1978年12月05日，原題「かっぱにもらった宝物」，採録地「結城郡」

. Manga Nihon Mukashibanashi　まんが日本昔ばなし .




. usu 臼. 挽臼 different types of mortars, grinders and handmills .

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- - - - - Present, presents from Kappa in other legends かっぱの贈り物 - - - - -

- - - - - This folktale is very similar to this one of the faked letter :
. Kappa no Sara カッパの皿 The Dish of Kappa .
豊岡村 Legend from Tomioka Village, Shizuoka


. - Kappa no kame 河童のかめ The Water Jar of Kappa
- Kappa no tsubo 河童の壺 .
栖足寺 Seisoku-Ji, Shizuoka


. - Kappa no kizugusuri カッパのきず薬 / 河童の傷薬
Kappa giving an ointment for wounds - .


. Kappa Tokkuri, Kappadokkuri 河童徳利 "Kappa and the Sake Flask" .
Kanagawa :　Nishikubo, Chigasaki 神奈川県は茅ヶ崎の西久保


Kappa ni moratta koban 河童にもらった小判（今戸焼カッパ人形　東京）Tokyo
Kappa no wabijo 河童の詫び状（染黒寺　岩手） Letter of regret / excuse - Iwate
Kappa no seimon seki 河童の誓文石（潮見神社　佐賀）Written oath - Shiga


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. Manholes マンホール from Japan .

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Kyuuchan キューちゃん Kyu-Chan - The Town Mascot



. - Mascots マスコット　and Characters キャラクター - Kanto .



Kyuu-chan even gets a birthday cake !
And Kappa Senbei 河童せんべい are a speciality of Ushiku.
. Cucumber - kyuuri キュウリ Kyuri, Gurken - .


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Ushiku Kappa Matsuri 牛久かっぱ祭り



Ushiku’s familiar blend of traditional dance and modern entertainment.
This festival focuses on the mythical character Kappa.
Thousands of people dancing to the "Kappa Bayashi" song, stalls on the sides of the road, various events on the stages. Held on the east side of Ushiku Station.

- reference -

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. Sakuma Asuka 佐久間あすか - Painter from Ushikunuma .

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 Kappa Study Center かっぱの里生涯学習センタ
Ushiku town 牛久市


第51図 「観音妙智力」 Kannon Myochi Riki - Kappa seeking wisdom from Kannon Bosatsu

ami ni kurumaru 網にくるまる
nio no ukizu 鳰の浮巣 floating nest of a water bird
riryuu no tama to kappa 驪龍の珠とカッパ black dragon and Kappa
Ushimata Buzaemon 牛股武左衛門

with 河童百図 100 paintings of a Kappa
- source : www.city.ushiku.lg.jp

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. - - - Join my Kappa friends on facebook ! - - - .

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. - Ogawa Usen 小川芋銭 - . (1868-1938)
Kappa painter and poet who lived in Ushiku.


. Kappa densetsu　河童伝説, Kappa minwa 河童民話 - Introduction .

. Mingei 民芸　Regional Folk　Art from Japan .


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matsuri Kappa festivals

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- KAPPA - 河童 / 合羽　/ かっぱ /　カッパ - ABC-Index -
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- Kappa Festivals かっぱ祭り　Kappa Matsuri -

Many towns have a Kappa Festival to boost the town or village life.
Some attract quite a large crowd.




. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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- - - - - Oita 　大分 Ōita - - - - - 　

Hita City 日田

Kappa Odori　河童踊り　Kappa Dance Festival
Iwato Festival. mid-October



A ritual Shinto dance to pray for a good harvest.
Boys dressed as kappa jump and hop around to humorous music.
Prefectural Intangible Cultural Treasure.



かっぱ楽［宮園楽］Kappa Dance - Oita 大分 耶馬溪町宮園　　
July 28/29）
Kumo Hachiman Jinja 雲八幡神社
363 Yabakeimachi Oaza Miyazono, Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture




かっぱ楽 Kappa Dance - Oita 大分 山国町白地　
Kameoka Hachiman 亀岡八幡　- September 15
Shiraji Yamakunimachi Nakama, Nakatsu-shi, Ōita


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- - - - - Yamagata 　山形県 - - - - - 　


CLICK for more photos !

. Mahoroba Kappa Matsuri　まほろば河童まつり .
高畠町 Takahata Machi, August
and
最上川河童舟下り A Kappa going down the river Mogamigawa


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. Jozankei Kappa Festival 定山渓河童まつり .
Hokkaido


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Oogata Kappa Matsuri 大潟かっぱ祭り Ogata Kappa Festival
Niigata 新潟　－ Jooetsu 上越 Joetsu



- source : www.joetsu-atago.or.jp




- Festival Homepage -
Ogata “Legend of the Kappa” Festival
- source : www.oogata-kappa.jp

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西予市 Seiyo Town
Ehime 西予市明浜町高山(大早津海水浴場)

- quote
大早津の海岸で８月第１土・日曜に行われるユニークなお祭り。
若宮神社に残る「かっぱの恩返し伝説」に由来したもので、この神社には全国でも珍しい「かっぱの狛犬」が奉納されている。かっぱ踊りをはじめ浜辺の映画祭、花火、かっぱの故郷展、露店の立ち並ぶかっぱ横丁などの催し物が盛りだくさん。　

Three Legends about Kappa no Ongaeshi

◇ 狛犬(こまいぬ)になった河童 Kappa became a komainu Shrien Guardian Dog
若宮様はある夏の日、高山の浜で愛馬を洗っていて、河童のいたずらに会いました。若宮様は難なく河童を捕らえましたが、剛勇にこりた河童は泣いてあやまり許され海に帰りました。恩義を感じた河童は毎朝、鯛を一匹づつ若宮様に届けたということです。いまも河童は狛犬となり若宮様の社殿を守り続けています。この｢かっぱの恩返し伝説｣に登場する河童の狛犬は、若宮神社 Wakamiya に奉納されています。
. Kappa dislikes shika no tsuno 鹿の角 deer horn .
- another version from Wakamiya Shrine.


◇ 村人を救った鯨 The whale who saved the villagers
天保年間のこと。明浜沖に突然大きな鯨が流れてきました。食べ物がなくて困っていた村人たちは、これを捕らえて食糧とし、命をつなぎました。殿様は村人の窮地を救った鯨に｢戒名｣を与えました。いまも、それは、鯨塚として浜辺に３基(高山、俵津、宮野浦)、海に向かって立てられています。中でも高山のものは、宇和島藩主伊達春山公のご沙汰により、｢鱗王院殿法界全果大居士｣と殿様級の戒名がつけられており、地元では｢鯨様｣と呼んで親しみあがめています。

◇ 御神宝を守ったタコ The octopus who savet the Shrine treasure
春日神社のご神宝が盗難にあい、海上に運び去られようとした時、嵐が起こり、船ごと海中深く沈んでしまいました。ところが、これを大ダコが拾いあげ、もとの神社に無事に納まることができました。以来、この明浜の人は、タコを神の使いとして崇め、タコを食することはなかったということでした。
- source : www.ehime-sci.jp


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. Ushiku Kappa Matsuri 牛久かっぱ祭り - うしくかっぱ祭り .
Ibaraki 茨城県


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- tba -

水虎様の宵宮 - Aomori 青森 木造町　July 20
. - Suiko 水虎 Water Tiger, Water Beast - .


Inazaki Shishimai いなざき獅子舞 - Chiba 千葉・印西市　和泉鳥見神社
day of the autumn equinox, now in September


Kappa no mai 河童の舞 "Kappa Dance" - Fukuoka 福岡・北野町　北野天満宮 Kitano Tenmangu
Third Sunday in October
Suitengu 水天宮・春の大祭 Spring Festival - Fukuoka 福岡 久留米 - May 3 - 7
Kurume Matsuri 水の祭典・久留米まつり - Fukuoka 福岡 久留米 August 3 - 5

Enkoo Matsuri えんこう祭 Enko Festival - Kochi 高知・南国市 - first Saturday in June

. Kappa Matsuri at 河童堂 Kappa-Do Hall- Ibaraki .
- Mid-July

Kappa Matsuri 河童祭り - Kumamoto 熊本 八代　悟真寺　second Sunday in June

Kappa no Furusato Matsuri かっぱのふるさとまつり- Miyagi 宮城 色麻町　Mid-August
O-Kappa sama no matsuri おかっぱ様のお祭り - Miyagi 宮城 色麻町　Isora Jinja 磯良神社
15th day of the 6th lunar month
. - KAPPA - 河童 - Legends from Miyagi 宮城県 .


Nakashimagawa Matsuri 中島川まつり - Nagasaki 長崎市　
This is a festival from the people for the people, relating to the many legends of Kappa along the river. School children carry palanquins with Kappa along the road.
- beginning of May
. Nagasaki Suijin-Sha 水神社 Shrine of the Water Deity .

- details at Kizakura -

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. Festival Illustrations by - Hino Ashihei 火野葦平 - .


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. Matsuri 祭り　Japanese Festivals .
- Introduction -

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. - - - Join my Kappa friends on facebook ! - - - .

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. Mingei 民芸　Regional Folk　Art from Japan .

- #kappamatsuri #matsuri #kappafestival -
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