August Festivals
Uozu Tatemon Ritual
Uozu (Toyama prefecture)
The first Friday and Saturday of August
Uozu Tatemon ritual is the parade of towers of lanterns called “Mantou” or “Tatemon” for playing for bountiful fishing and safety of sailing during the annual festival of Suwa shrine in Suwa town in Uozu.
The annual festival is normally held with Uozu Festival on 7-8 August. Although there is the Mikoshi parade of Suwa shrine in the daytime, the “Tatemon” is the parade at night and not a part of the Mikoshi parade.
9 towns out of 12 towns participating in Suwa shrine brought their Tatemon lantern towers originally, but the number of Tatemon was decreased to 6 in Showa era. After WW2, the port town took part in the parade, and a total of 7 Tatemon exist in the festival nowadays.
In the evening, people carry the Tatemon towers to the shrine and spin them forcefully.
