The city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture has many festivals (matsuri (祭り)) and other events in all of the seasons, usually based on its rich historical heritage. They are often sponsored by private businesses and, unlike those in Kyoto, they are relatively small-scale events attended mostly by locals and a few tourists.[1] January in particular has many because it's the first month of the year, so authorities, fishermen, businesses and artisans organize events to pray for their own health and safety, and for a good and prosperous working year. Kamakura's numerous temples and shrines, first among them city symbols Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū and Kenchō-ji, organize many events too, bringing the total to over a hundred.[1]
1, 2 and 3 - Kamakura Ebisu (鎌倉えびす) at Hongaku-ji: Celebration of Ebisu, god of commerce. Young women dressed in traditional costumes (Fuku Musume) sell lucky charms made of bamboo and sake.[1]Minamoto no Yoritomo made Ebisu the shogunate's tutelary god, but now people flock to the temple to wish for a good new year.[1] There's a similar event on the tenth too, called Hon Ebisu (本えびす), and this time the girls distribute Fukumochi (rice cakes).[1]
2nd - Funaoroshi (船おろし) at Sakanoshita: This event marks the beginning of the working year for local fishermen, who pray for big catches and the safety of their boats.[1] Tangerines are thrown into the sea, boats carrying flags gather along the coast and the captain offers sake to Funadama (船霊), the boat's guardian kami.[1]
4th - Funaiwai (船祝い) at Koshigoe: See Funaoroshi above.
4th - Chōna-hajimeshiki (手斧初式) at Tsurugaoka Hachiman: This event marks the beginning of the working year for local construction workers who, for the ceremony, use traditional working tools.[1] The festival also commemorates Minamoto no Yoritomo, who ordered the reconstruction of the main building of the shrine after it was destroyed by fire in 1191.[1] The ceremony takes place at 1:00 PM at Tsurugaoka Hachiman.[2]
5th - Joma Shinji (除魔神事) at Tsurugaoka Hachiman: Festival to keep evil spirits away.[1] Archers shoot at a target on which is painted the word "devil".[1]
15th- Sagichō (左義長}} at Tsurugaoka Hachiman: The paper decorations used during the New Year festivities are publicly burned.[1]
FebruaryEdit
Day before the first day of spring (usually Feb. 3) - Setsubun Matsuri (節分祭) at Tsurugaoka Hachiman, Kenchō-ji, Hase-dera, Kamakura-gū, etc. : Celebration of the end of winter.[1] Beans are scattered in the air to ensure good luck.[1]
11th: Daikokutōe Seiman Matsuri (大国祷会成満祭り) at Chōshō-ji temple: Ceremony during which Buddhist monks douse themselves with cold water to pray for the country's safety.[1]
MarchEdit
Last day of equinoctial week (end of the month): Dōbutsu Ireisai (動物慰霊祭) at Kōsoku-ji. The temple performs funerary rites in memory of defunct pets (dogs, cats, canaries).[1]
AprilEdit
2nd to 3rd Sunday of April: Kamakura Matsuri at Tsurugaoka Hachiman and other locations: A whole week of events that celebrate the city and its history.[1]
MayEdit
5th - Kusajishi (草鹿) at the Kamakura-gū: Archers in samurai gear shoot arrows at a straw deer while reciting old poems.[1]
JuneEdit
A mikoshi
2nd Sunday - Goshō Jinja Reisai (五所神社例祭) at Goshō Jinja: The faithful carry a portable shrine ( a mikoshi) on Zaimokuza's streets. At about 3:00 PM the mikoshi is carried into the sea at Zaimokuza Beach.[1]
JulyEdit
From the first to the second Sunday of the Month - Koyurugi Jinja Ten'osai (小動神社天王祭) at Koyurugi Jinja: Processions from Koshigoe's five neighborhoods play music and welcome the coming of the gods.[3] Warrior dolls are displayed along the streets and, on the last day of the festival, Yasaka Jinja's mikoshi is carried from Enoshima to Koshigoe.[3]
15th - Sanmon Kajiwara Segakie (三門梶原施餓鬼会) at Kenchō-ji: Funeral rites take place first early in the morning under the Sanmon gate.[1] They are later repeated expressly for the soul of Kajiwara Kagetoki.[1]
AugustEdit
From the first day of fall (usually the 8th) to the 9th - Bonbori Matsuri (ぼんぼり祭り) at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū: hand-drawn bonbori paper lanterns are submitted and exhibited on the shrine's grounds Photos of the lanterns.[1][2]
10th (or following Monday if it falls on a Saturday): A full hour of fireworks on the beach in Yuigahama.[2]
SeptemberEdit
14th, 15th and 16th - Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū Reitaisai (鶴岡八幡宮例大祭): Famous festival with many attractions, the most famous of which is the Yabusame (流鏑馬), or Japanese horseback archery, which takes place on the 16th.[2]
OctoberEdit
October 8 and 9 - Kamakura Takigi-Nō (鎌倉薪能) at Kamakura Shrine: Noh plays are held at the shrine by the Kamakura Tourist Association.[2] Tickets must be reserved in advance (phone number: 0467-23-3050).[2]
NovemberEdit
Early November- 宝物風入 (Hōmotsu Kazeire): Treasure display at Kenchō-ji and Engaku-ji.[2] Objects normally not visible by the public are on display for three days.[2]
DecemberEdit
16th- Gochinza Kinensai (御鎮座記念祭) at Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū: Celebration of the founding of the shrine.[2] After dark, bonfires are lighted and four maidens perform a ritual dance.[2]
NotesEdit
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvKamakura Official Textbook for Culture and Tourism, pages 170 to 188 (in Japanese)
^ abcdefghijKamakura City's List of Festivals and Events (in Japanese)
^ abKamakura's History - Koshigoe 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine by the Kamakura Citizen Net, retrieved on May 26, 2008 (in English)
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October 21, 2023
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The city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture has many festivals matsuri 祭り and other events in all of the seasons usually based on its rich historical heritage They are often sponsored by private businesses and unlike those in Kyoto they are relatively small scale events attended mostly by locals and a few tourists 1 January in particular has many because it s the first month of the year so authorities fishermen businesses and artisans organize events to pray for their own health and safety and for a good and prosperous working year Kamakura s numerous temples and shrines first among them city symbols Tsurugaoka Hachiman gu and Kenchō ji organize many events too bringing the total to over a hundred 1 The Parade during the Kamakura Festival Contents 1 January 2 February 3 March 4 April 5 May 6 June 7 July 8 August 9 September 10 October 11 November 12 December 13 Notes 14 ReferencesJanuary Edit1 2 and 3 Kamakura Ebisu 鎌倉えびす at Hongaku ji Celebration of Ebisu god of commerce Young women dressed in traditional costumes Fuku Musume sell lucky charms made of bamboo and sake 1 Minamoto no Yoritomo made Ebisu the shogunate s tutelary god but now people flock to the temple to wish for a good new year 1 There s a similar event on the tenth too called Hon Ebisu 本えびす and this time the girls distribute Fukumochi rice cakes 1 2nd Funaoroshi 船おろし at Sakanoshita This event marks the beginning of the working year for local fishermen who pray for big catches and the safety of their boats 1 Tangerines are thrown into the sea boats carrying flags gather along the coast and the captain offers sake to Funadama 船霊 the boat s guardian kami 1 4th Funaiwai 船祝い at Koshigoe See Funaoroshi above 4th Chōna hajimeshiki 手斧初式 at Tsurugaoka Hachiman This event marks the beginning of the working year for local construction workers who for the ceremony use traditional working tools 1 The festival also commemorates Minamoto no Yoritomo who ordered the reconstruction of the main building of the shrine after it was destroyed by fire in 1191 1 The ceremony takes place at 1 00 PM at Tsurugaoka Hachiman 2 5th Joma Shinji 除魔神事 at Tsurugaoka Hachiman Festival to keep evil spirits away 1 Archers shoot at a target on which is painted the word devil 1 15th Sagichō 左義長 at Tsurugaoka Hachiman The paper decorations used during the New Year festivities are publicly burned 1 February EditDay before the first day of spring usually Feb 3 Setsubun Matsuri 節分祭 at Tsurugaoka Hachiman Kenchō ji Hase dera Kamakura gu etc Celebration of the end of winter 1 Beans are scattered in the air to ensure good luck 1 11th Daikokutōe Seiman Matsuri 大国祷会成満祭り at Chōshō ji temple Ceremony during which Buddhist monks douse themselves with cold water to pray for the country s safety 1 March EditLast day of equinoctial week end of the month Dōbutsu Ireisai 動物慰霊祭 at Kōsoku ji The temple performs funerary rites in memory of defunct pets dogs cats canaries 1 April Edit2nd to 3rd Sunday of April Kamakura Matsuri at Tsurugaoka Hachiman and other locations A whole week of events that celebrate the city and its history 1 May Edit5th Kusajishi 草鹿 at the Kamakura gu Archers in samurai gear shoot arrows at a straw deer while reciting old poems 1 June Edit nbsp A mikoshi2nd Sunday Goshō Jinja Reisai 五所神社例祭 at Goshō Jinja The faithful carry a portable shrine a mikoshi on Zaimokuza s streets At about 3 00 PM the mikoshi is carried into the sea at Zaimokuza Beach 1 July EditFrom the first to the second Sunday of the Month Koyurugi Jinja Ten osai 小動神社天王祭 at Koyurugi Jinja Processions from Koshigoe s five neighborhoods play music and welcome the coming of the gods 3 Warrior dolls are displayed along the streets and on the last day of the festival Yasaka Jinja s mikoshi is carried from Enoshima to Koshigoe 3 15th Sanmon Kajiwara Segakie 三門梶原施餓鬼会 at Kenchō ji Funeral rites take place first early in the morning under the Sanmon gate 1 They are later repeated expressly for the soul of Kajiwara Kagetoki 1 August EditFrom the first day of fall usually the 8th to the 9th Bonbori Matsuri ぼんぼり祭り at Tsurugaoka Hachiman gu hand drawn bonbori paper lanterns are submitted and exhibited on the shrine s grounds Photos of the lanterns 1 2 10th or following Monday if it falls on a Saturday A full hour of fireworks on the beach in Yuigahama 2 September Edit14th 15th and 16th Tsurugaoka Hachiman gu Reitaisai 鶴岡八幡宮例大祭 Famous festival with many attractions the most famous of which is the Yabusame 流鏑馬 or Japanese horseback archery which takes place on the 16th 2 October EditOctober 8 and 9 Kamakura Takigi Nō 鎌倉薪能 at Kamakura Shrine Noh plays are held at the shrine by the Kamakura Tourist Association 2 Tickets must be reserved in advance phone number 0467 23 3050 2 November EditEarly November 宝物風入 Hōmotsu Kazeire Treasure display at Kenchō ji and Engaku ji 2 Objects normally not visible by the public are on display for three days 2 December Edit16th Gochinza Kinensai 御鎮座記念祭 at Tsurugaoka Hachiman gu Celebration of the founding of the shrine 2 After dark bonfires are lighted and four maidens perform a ritual dance 2 Notes Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Kamakura Official Textbook for Culture and Tourism pages 170 to 188 in Japanese a b c d e f g h i j Kamakura City s List of Festivals and Events in Japanese a b Kamakura s History Koshigoe Archived 2008 05 11 at the Wayback Machine by the Kamakura Citizen Net retrieved on May 26 2008 in English References EditKamakura Shōkō Kaigijo 2008 Kamakura Kankō Bunka Kentei Kōshiki Tekisutobukku in Japanese Kamakura Kamakura Shunshusha ISBN 978 4 7740 0386 3 Kamakura Today Annual Events in English Kamakura City s List of Festivals and Events in Japanese nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kamakura Matsuri Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of festivals and events in Kamakura amp oldid 1134072597, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
