As Takayama festival, Hida-Furukawa festival has been registered on the list of the UNESCO’s immaterial worldwide heritage in 2016 under the name of Yama-Hoko-Yatai gyoji (mountain festivals where floats parades take place). In comparison with the one in Takayama, Furukawa’s floats parade is maybe smaller but is not to be overshadowed so the floats are majestics and luxurious.

Every 19th and 20th of April, we can admire the festival dedicated to Keta Wakamiya Taisha sanctuary which inspired the drawing of the animated film “Kimi no na wa”. The highlights of this festival take place the first evening during the okoshi-daiko event (which does not exist in Takayama) and the second day when the floats parade in the streets. The second day, the most important event is the floats parade, all joining together and lining up (Hiki-soroe). Children wearing costumes play Kabuki (Kodomo Kabuki), and animated puppets stand on the floats, (Karakuri-hono). In the evening, the floats decorated with lanterns suddenly appear from the shadow.

  

※Furukawa ‘s floats are considered to be cultural and immaterial heritage of Gifu Prefecture. Notice that during rainy days, the events that take place outside are cancelled to prevent the floats to be damaged. However, the event “Okoshi-daiko” will takes place no matter what the weather is like.

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Events to see on the firsts day

Floats parade and other rituals

  

In every district, the floats are drag out of their warehouses. Moreover, there are many rituals in the Keta Wakamiya Taisha sanctuary, as the “shishimai”, the lion dance during which dancers wear a big lion costume together and imitate the motions of the animal.  There is also the toukeiraku, a traditional music parade.

In the afternoon, a small portable temple called Mikoshi is carried in the streets. The floats are brought back to the warehouses before dark but the Mikoshi is carried to an Otabisho, a place that is used as a temporary resting place halfway of the ritual.

  

 

Okoshi-daiko

 

The main ritual of Furukawa festival takes place on the second day, but the night before is maybe the most excited moment of the entire festival, the Okoshi-Daiko.  Okoshi-daiko is called also Mezamashi-daiko (literally “The drum wake-up”) is formerly just a signal of the opening of the festival, when it is played the drum taiko. However, in Furukawa, this moment is so intense that it became a true event in itself. Hundreds of men wearing the fundoshi (traditional underwear) participate to this big show. They are divided in different groups, those who carry the big drum called Oo-daiko and 12 others smalls drums Ko-daiko that are carried by the others who represent each district of the town. This is a violent event where each group try to stay the nearest as possible to the middle where people in charge of the big drums try to push them away. It creates a big rush. This battle attracts and fascinates the public every year. The team in charge of the big drum is selected as random and the other teams are automatically assigned to the tsuke-taiko (small drums).  The energy and the intensity of  Furukawa’s inhabitants is so strong and famous for a long time that they are named : Furukawa Yancha (an expression that could be translated as an aggressive or rebel attitude). There are always injured people and the small drums had been prohibited more than once; but nowadays, it becomes more a playable event and the festival is named “dispute festival”, kenka matsuri in japanese. The excitement of the different teams (big and small drums teams) is very close to the public and you will be totally immersed in the atmosphere of the festival. This event causes injured people and even if there is special care not to hurt the public, please be careful.   Above all, do not miss the incredible performance of the teams in charge of small drums who balance on a 3 meters high stick placed on their abdomen !

 
 

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Events to see on the second day

 

Parade floats installation

  

After the intensity of the first evening, the atmosphere becomes totally different and the town fills with elegance. During this day, 9 parade floats with height 6 meters join together in the streets. Every float costs about hundred millions of yen and to see these majestics and luxurious floats lining up is a wonderful show. The visitors are charmed by the beauty of the floats decorated in many beautiful ways, and you will understand that those are no less impressives that the ones which parade during Takayama festival.

Moreover, you will surely notice the sophisticated skills of Hida craftsmen, Hida no takumi in Japanese, while admiring wood engraving the meticulously done on each one. We could also see a special show of two floats. The first one is called “dragon float and the second one “Kirin float” (a kind of japanese imaginary animal) equipped with a Karakuri puppet (traditional puppet). The floats called “white tiger float” has a small stage on which children who wear costumes play the traditional Kabuki. This event is called “Kodomo Kabuki” Moreover, during the same day, you could admire the parade of the portable temple, the Mikoshi, and also the lion danse, shishimai.

  

The floats during night time festival

  

In the afternoon, the floats are brought back to their warehouses where they are decorated for the night time festival. In the evening, the floats decorated with lanterns parade in the street which is immersed in a totally different atmosphere.

Do not hesitate to enjoy it completely.

Related blogs
- Furukawa's Sake
- Hida no Takumi bunka kan (Takumikan craft museum)
- Furukawa festival
- "Can't miss" Spring festival 2019
- Hilights of the 1st day of Furukawa festival
- Hilights of the 2nd day of Furukawa festival ~floats parade and their installation on the place~