Cultural heritage events held in Joetsu and Hirosaki

Traditional cultural events were held in Japan to celebrate seasonal heritage. In Joetsu City, the ‘Tsukimichiyo no Sato Kagura’ was performed for the first time in seven years in the Kuwatari district. Organized by the Kuwatari Satokagura Denshokai, the event featured local Shinto priests and elementary and junior high school students performing 14 different pieces of sacred dance to pray for bountiful harvests and health.

In Hirosaki City, the Fujita Memorial Garden hosted the ‘Autumn Moon Viewing Festival.’ The event included musical performances of the biwa and shinobue flute in the garden setting, alongside a Chinese tea ceremony. The festivities took place within the historic Japanese garden and traditional wooden architecture of the memorial garden.