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Narawa District Festival
[Handa-City]
Date : 4/14/2018 to 4/15/2018
  • Narawa District Festival
The Narawa district is the current 3rd and 4th Districts of Narawa. In early-modern times, it was a community formed on both sides of the main street called the Higashiura-kaido Road, and there were communities called Honnarawa on the north side and Banba on the south side where the road crosses the Godo River. Honnarawa is referenced in the "Kanbun Muramura Oboegaki" written in the beginning of the early-modern times. The "Honnarawa Shinjisairei Shikijo" (1849 and 1857) describes the order in which Kitamura, Minami-gumi, Higashi-Banba and Nishi-Banba paraded and took down their floats at the festival. Furthermore, the festival styles are described in the "Shinji ni Kansuru Kitamura/Minami-gumi Ryoukumi no Joyakusho" (1890), and have been inherited as tradition to this day. The festival of the 3rd and 4th Districts of Narawa are held for two days on a Saturday and Sunday in mid April every year, and main events include a parade of the four floats (Kitamura Narusha, Minami-gumi Nansha, Nishi-gumi Kamiguruma, Higashi-gumi Asahiguruma), and Shinto rituals at the Narawa-jinja Shrine.
At the Narawa-jinja Shrine, Kitamura dedicates large lion and small lion dances (prefectural intangible folk-cultural property), while Minami-gumi dedicates a Karakuri puppet show. Traditions can be seen in the encounter between the two districts' floats at the Zenroku Shoten corner, as well as in the Kagura (Shinto music and dance), which is one of the highlights of the Narawa District Festival. Prior to proceeding to the Narawa-jinja Shrine, in both the Yoi Festival and Main Festival, the Kagura procession floats meet at the intersection in front of Zenroku Shoten in Yuraku-cho. The 4th District Kagura from the north, and 3rd District Kagura from the south meet at the intersection and the district chiefs, shrine parishioner representatives, and leading members of the festival exchange greetings, before the procession proceeds to the shrine. The 3rd District Kagura procession is led by people holding lanterns on long rods, and is followed by people performing the Kagura, shrine maidens, and board members, while the 4th District Kagura is similarly led by people holding lanterns on long rods, followed by people performing the Kagura, children's lion dance, Yakata, and board members.

The "Honnarawa Shinjisairei Shikijo" (1849 and 1857) describes the order in which Kitamura, Minami-gumi, Higashi-Banba and Nishi-Banba paraded and took down their floats at the festival. Furthermore, the festival styles are described in the "Shinji ni Kansuru Kitamura/Minami-gumi Ryoukumi no Joyakusho" (1890), and have been inherited as tradition to date.

Photo Gallery

Photo

  • Narawa District Festival
  • Narawa District Festival
  • Narawa District Festival
  • Narawa District Festival
  • Narawa District Festival

Festival Overview

Overview

Date 4/14/2018 to 4/15/2018
Venue Yuraku-cho 1-13, Handa City
Phone number 0569-84-0689(Handa City Tourism Division)
0569-32-3264(Handa City Tourist Association)

Access / Map

Access / Map

Access by public transport Alight at Meitetsu Chita-Handa Station / JR Taketoyo Line Handa Station, and walk for approx. 5 minutes.
Access by car Approx. 10 minutes to the east from Chitahanto Road Handa-Chuo I.C.
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