Harima Province (播磨国, Harima no kuni) or Banshū (播州) was a province of Japan in the part of Honshū that is the southwestern part of present-day Hyōgo Prefecture. Harima bordered on Tajima, Tanba, Settsu, Bizen, and Mimasaka Provinces. Its capital was Himeji.
Himeji is famous for the beautiful White Castles（aka Shirasagi Castle/白鷺城）that has Ninja training scenes in the film “You Only Live Twice”, and the Enkyoji temple（圓教寺）that has many of the scenes in the film “The Last Samurai”
Himeji is not only place for film buffs, it has more to offer than the castle and the temple. If you visit in October, you can hear the drumming sound and men’s shouts from nowhere.
Annual festivals of shrines in Himeji are mostly held in October. Generally The festival is divided into two days. The first day is called “Yoi-Miya (宵宮)” and the second day is called “Hon-Miya (本宮) or Hiru-Miya (昼宮)”.
Yoi-Miya (Evening Festival/宵宮)
The festival starts around noon of the first day with “Neri-Dashi” (練り出し). In the each of villages/districts, a Yatai (屋台), which is a portable shrine, is carried around to present it to its residents (villagers). Participants parade around their village/district with the Yatai in the afternoon, which is called “Mura-Neri (Village Parade/村練り)”.
Paper Lantern Parade (提灯練り)
Usuki Hachiman Shrines (魚吹八幡神社) is famous for its Evening Paper Lantern Parade (提灯練り) which is performed by participants from seven villages in the evening.
Hiru-Miya (Day Festival/昼宮)
The main festival takes place on the second day. The participants with Yatai leave home village/district and heads to the “Otabisho (御旅所)”, place where the sacred palanquin（Mikoshi/神輿）is lodged during a festival. Mikoshi is responsible for carrying the god inside and Yatai with villagers follows after the Mikoshi. According to the tradition, when Kami (Gods of Shinto religion) go on a journey, people(Ujiko/氏子), who are people under the protection of the local tutelary deity, accompany the god(s). When Yatai of each of villages/districts are lines up, participants starts “carrying competition” on the huge public space.
Cho-Sa (チョーサ) as Western style (西の流儀) at Usuki Hachiman Shrine
Yatai (the locals say “Yattai” instead of Yatai) which belongs to Usuki Hachman Shrine, participants perform “Cho-Sa”, which are lifting the Yattai over their heads. Yattai is tossed into air by men. When carriers lift the Yattai with the shout, “Cho-Sa (チョーサ)”. This style of lifting is commonly seen in the western and neighbouring part of Himeji City such as Aboshi district and Tatsuno City.
Yo-I-Ya-Sa (ヨーイヤサー) as Eastern style (東の流儀) at Matsubara Hachiman Shrine
At the Matsubara Hachiman Shrine, which is famous as “Nada Fighting Festival (灘のけんか祭り)”, two or more palanquins（Mikoshi/神輿） are banged against each other. That’s called “Mikoshi-Awase (神輿合わせ)”. When carriers lift the Yatai (the locals say Yassa instead of Yatai) with the shout, “Yo-I-Ya-Sa (ヨーイヤサー)”, which means “May the world will prosper”. This style of lifting and banging is commonly seen in eastern part of Himeji City such as Shikama district(飾磨) and Shirahama district(白浜).
As you can see it takes a lot of manpower to lift up the float as it weights up to 1.2 to 2.0 tons! Teamwork and a great synchronization are necessary.
Miya-Iri (宮入)
Then, the main event of the day will start, the “Miya-Iri” (宮入). Each Yatai (屋台/portable shrine with a drum) will enter through the shrine gate to receive the blessings of the gods.
At Matsubara Shrine (松原八幡神社) and Usuki Shrine (魚吹八幡神社), the top of the Yatai（Giboshi and Roban/擬宝珠・露盤）had to be removed so that it would fit through the entrance gate. Some people say having to remove the top is similar to taking off your hat when entering a church, to pay respect to the god(s) but it is said that actually the narrow frontage of the tower gate once served to protect the precincts of the shrine from enemy intrusion. Anyway one Roban weights 28 kg (about 61 pound)!
In some shrines such as Matsubara Hachiman shrine (松原八幡神社), a leader of participants toss purifying salt over the carriers of the Yatai. Generally there’s a given order in which the seven floats of each village have to enter.
Lion Dance (獅子舞) at Matsubara Hachiman Shrine.
After all portable shrines have received their blessings and the “Neri-Awase（練り合わせ）” has started, there’s “Shishimai“. It’s a lion dance held in front of Shirahama Elementary school and in front of the Shrine. In contrast to the busy working of Yatai, the lion dance is performed peacefully and gracefully with ancient Japanese court music (Gagaku/雅楽).
Miya-De (宮出)
After Miya-Neri (宮練り) in the afternoon, participants take a break and have meal with mates or family. Each Yatai leaves the shrine (Miya-De, 宮出) and come home in the evening. The illuminated Yatai looks quite nice.
Traditional Matsuri Clothes
The men who participate as carriers of the floats all put on headbands (hachimaki、鉢巻). The color of the headband depends on either his role or the village they belong to. Furthermore they are wrapped in mawashi (廻し) which is similar to fundoshi (褌) , a loincloth that sumo wrestlers usually wear. The contestants wear Jika-tabi (地下足袋), a type of traditional Japanese boots. Last but not least, they have a udemamori (腕守り), an arm protector, on their upper left arm.
Carriers of Yatai (a portable shrine) are called “Neriko(練り子)”. They carry the Yatai on their shoulders. A Yatai is carried by at least 60 people that consists of male adults traditionally.
People who ride and drum inside the Yatai (a portable shrine with a drum) is called “Noriko (乗り子)”. Drumming is usually performed by four men who wear expensive kimono(着物/Japanese traditional costume). It costs more than 9 thousand USD!
Beautiful Parts of Yatai (a portable shrine)
When you find a resting float, you can get closer and admire all the great details. Each yatai is decorated with beautiful wooden carvings and other valuable items.
The Yatai (屋台) have gold and silver decorations and weights from 1.2 tons to 2.0 tons. There are some rumours that one costs around 1 million USD but it’s not sured yet. They have to build a new Yatai every 15-20 years or renew some parts due to their aggressive handling. Often you see newly built yatai (No black-painted roof without a lot of decoration) getting blessings from the shrine during the festival as well. In 1-2 years they can be used for real. They’re called Shiraki Yatai (白木屋台, untreated wood yatai).
Yatai-Mon(屋台紋): The crest on the roof of Yattai. The crests vary in pattern and design, mostly represent its shrine’s emblem and symbolizes its village/district’s guarding gods. Three comma‐shaped figures in a circle (左三つ巴) is commonly seen on the Yatai which belongs to Hachiman Shrines (八幡神社). Also dragon crests (龍紋) are very common for Yatai of Matsubara, Usuki Hachiman and Tomishima shrines. Plum bowl (梅鉢) crests are used by Yatai of Tenmangu Shrine (天満神社). Apart from them, you can find unique crests such as eagle (鷲), sea-bream (鯛), bottle gourd (千成り瓢箪) and Asarum caulescens (葵).
Sama(挟間): Gap wooden carving. The carving shows a famous scene of Samurai battles or Japanese myths.
Maku(幕): Embroidered curtain.
Honbou(本棒): Main wooden bar. The main bar is usually thicker than the side one.
Wakibou(脇棒): Side wooden bar.
Autumn Festival Schedule in and around Himeji
Hamanomiya Tenman Shrine (浜の宮天満神社) 8th and 9th Oct
Ebisunomiya Tenman Shrine (恵美酒宮天満神社) 8th and 9th Oct
Tsuda Tenman Shrine (津田天満神社) 2nd Saturday and Sunday Oct
Ohshio Tenmangu Shrine (大塩) 14th and 15th Oct
Matsubara Hachiman Shrine (松原八幡神社) 14th and 15th Oct
Arakawa Shrine (荒川神社) Saturday and Sunday which are closest to 17th of Oct
Tomishima Shrine (富嶋神社) 3rd Saturday and Sunday of Oct
Usuki Hachiman Shrine (魚吹八幡神社) 21st and 22nd Oct
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