Traditional autumn festivals held in Oita and Kagawa prefectures

Various traditional autumn festivals are taking place across different regions in Japan. In Hita City, Oita Prefecture, the Goma Ichikunichi festival will be held at Tamaki Shrine on October 26 and 27. The event features the ‘Goma-raku’ dance, characterized by participants performing synchronized movements to the sounds of drums, flutes, and wooden clappers. The ceremony includes a procession of dancers using two-meter-long staffs and children dressed as warriors with naginata, moving the deity from the shrine to a temporary sanctuary.

In the Kotohira region, the Oi Hachiman-gu shrine in the Gojo district hosts its annual autumn festival during the second weekend of October. The festivities involve local festival groups from the Gojo area and Mannou Town, continuing long-standing cultural traditions in the region.