Key Facts
• August 14, 2025: Traditional ‘Bonten Festival’ held at Mount Sekison (486 meters).
• 15-meter log erected at summit as part of a ritual dating back to the Edo period.
• Recognized as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Tochigi Prefecture.
• Approximately 250 attendees prayed for abundant harvests and household safety.
• 50 participants carried the log up a 370-meter elevation over 1.5 hours.
• Decorations, including sacred bundles, were added to the log at sunrise.
• Young participants climbed the log to distribute sacred tokens to attendees.
• High school students Sato Natsune (17) and Hamaoka Sotaro (16) joined for the first time.
• Rain on festival day is believed to bring favorable farming weather.
• Head priest Ito Toshihiro (58) prayed for world peace during the ceremony.
Summary
The ‘Bonten Festival,’ a traditional ritual dating back to the Edo period, was held on August 14, 2025, at Mount Sekison in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture. Participants carried a 15-meter log up a steep 370-meter elevation to the summit, where it was decorated and erected at sunrise. Approximately 250 attendees prayed for abundant harvests and household safety. Despite rainy conditions, which are considered auspicious for farming, the event proceeded successfully. Young participants, including first-time high school students, expressed enthusiasm for the experience. The festival, recognized as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property, concluded with prayers for peace led by head priest Ito Toshihiro.
