Key Facts
• Ōnominato Shrine’s summer festival began on August 1 in Kanazawa.
• Recognized as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the city.
• Features a grand procession to the former shrine site on the coast.
• Two golden portable shrines (mikoshi) carried by participants.
• 39 floats, including traditional hikiyama and taiko drum platforms, joined the parade.
• Originates from a 1252 fire that relocated the shrine inland.
• Procession covers 1.5 km to a temporary shrine in Kanazawa’s Kanaiwa West.
• Participants chant “Ei-ya, Ei-ya” while carrying the mikoshi.
• Local resident Yosuke Uchida, 29, joined for the first time.
• Takeshi Uetani, 45, led the group with traditional songs.
• Festival runs until August 3, concluding with a return procession to the shrine.
Summary
The Ōnominato Shrine summer festival, a major cultural event in Kanazawa, began on August 1. This annual celebration, designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property, commemorates the shrine’s historical relocation after a 1252 fire. The festival’s highlight is a 1.5 km procession featuring two golden mikoshi, 39 traditional floats, and vibrant music. Participants, including first-timer Yosuke Uchida, carried the mikoshi to a temporary shrine, chanting and celebrating the deity’s symbolic “homecoming.” Takeshi Uetani led the group with traditional songs, emphasizing the festival’s importance to the community. The event concludes on August 3 with a return procession to the shrine.
