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Festival - Furukawa Festival -
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Where the traditional spirit of
Japan lives on
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| Officially Designated Essential Intangible Cultural Property April 19th and 20th
In the midnight of April 19, the enthusiastic storm blows through the town of Hida Furukawa. This is “Okoshi Daiko (Wakening Drum)” known in Japan as the most eccentric festival. This festival can be described as a combination of naked and fighting festival. Only this day, this quiet little town becomes tumult with the intense fights among naked men. |
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| Then, on the following day, April 20, the atmosphere changes completely and graceful stalls parade around the town of Furukawa. Harmony of “Movement and Quietness”, this is the Furukawa Festival. |
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 The Well-Known Eccentric Festival “Okoshi Daiko (Wakening Drum)” April 19th, Executed even it rains. |
 So Brave and Heroic! Successive Poundings of Drum that Vibrates into Your Body |
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All of a sudden, you hear, “Boom! Thud! Boom!” You can feel the succession of pounding sounds of drums vibrating your body.
Simultaneously, the large chorus of “Zenzenoko” celebratory song begins.
“Zenzenoko” song:
Medeta Medetano Wakamatsu Sama yo (Let’s celebrate the young buds coming out)
Edamo Sakaeru Hamo Shigeru (Its bFarmes and leaves will grow)
Sore Tsuitatote Nantosezu (If everything is gone, it’s OK.)
Zenzenoko Sorya Manmanoko (No money, nothing to eat) |
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They wear white headband, white “tabi (Japanese socks)” and stomach band made from bleached cotton. Hida in mid April is still chilly and blows cold wind at night, but it has no effect to their body heated with sake and high spirits. It is their proudest moment at the year of "Furukawa Yancha (Adventure)."
At the top of tower 5m (16.4 ft.) above the ground, the hollyhock pattern Okoshi Daiko is placed with dignity. Two youngsters facing against each other are on the drum and firmly tie each other’s body with a piece of white cloth. |
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The large parade of the wakening drum eventually approaches “Yotsutsuji” of Ichino town (almost at the center of the town). The street that is usually sentimental and has the atmosphere to bring rich emotion to people with “Senbon Koushi (One thousand grates)” and White Wall Storehouses is filled with people now. People are waiting to see this event from the windows of all houses, windows of second story houses and even on the roof.
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| Yotsutsuji in midnight and clash with “Tsuke Drum” (A drum with 30cm [12in] in diameter attached to a log of 3m [9.8ft]. by a rope. It is attached at the end of each “Yagura (tower)”) |
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….then you hear a large “Wow!” from the crowd. A group holding “Tsuke Drum (attached drum)” rushes toward the wakening drum from the darkness of Yotsutsuji.
Roaring, scream and shout.
“Tsuke Drum (attached drum)” pushed away rushes again. The uproar air spreads into the night. Quite a fight, you won’t see ever again in your life. The crowd gets excited and shouts the wild cheering and applause. |
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| “Parade of Stalls” April 20 |
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| Glorious and gorgeous parade of stalls |
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The morning came and it’s April 20. Last night’s excitement is gone and the town is back to a quiet place. Then, nine stalls that Furukawa people are proud of are lined up.
People in Furukawa often say, “Don’t say you saw the Furukawa Festival just by seeing the wakening drum.” Certainly, you cannot say you’ve seen the Furukawa Festival without experiencing the glorious stalls, Honraku Festival and “Mikoshi (portable shrine)” parade.
Hiding the remaining pain after the intense battle from previous night, the young men of Furukawa parade around the town pull these “Movable Youmei-Mon (gate)”.
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| Movable Youmei-Mon (Gate) |
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Compared to the brave and active "Movement" of the wakening drum, the stall is said to be gorgeous "Quietness". The Furukawa Festival occurs when the harmony between the movement and quietness matches perfectly.
The stall made by “Takumi (the Master)” of Hida from his heart and soul represents the traditional beauty and craft beauty, while magnificence and glorious, and profoundness and melancholy fuse at just right level.
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At the night of Honraku Festival, the gloriously stalls decorated with gorgeous lanterns parade within the town showing the fantasy world.
The snow of Hida Furukawa town starts to thaw and the spring is called along with the sound of "wakening drum".
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| Hida Fukukawa Matsuri Kaikan |
There is a Museum where Furukawa festival can be experienced. In the exhibition hall, you can enjoy the stereoscopic vision of wakening drum, portable shrine and the stalls with the high-definition television.
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