Karasuyama Yama-age Ritual
Friday, Saturday and Sunday including fouth Saturday of July, Nasu Karasuyama (Tochigi prefecture)
It was started to avoid the epidemic in 1558 by enshrining the god named “Gozu Tenno”. The “Yama-age” ritual was originally a religious event in which parishioners of Yakumo Shrine built a Yama float to welcome the visit of the deity of the shrine and show performances to comfort the deity.
Although nowadays Yama floats are recognized as the part of stage for traditional performances, it was defined as the place where gods descended.
Yama floats visit each town, and people assemble and disassemble the 100m wide stage for the Kyogen performance each time. Around 150 young men are necessary for the build and crash of the stage each time, and the Kigashira, the leader of construction conducts it to finish the process within minutes.
This is an important festival with rich regional characteristics, with a variety of Kyogen performances using Yama float made of local materials such as bamboo and Karasuyama washi paper.
- Organizer:
- Yama-age Matsuri Jikko Inkai
- Contact Details
- 〒321-0692
- Tochigi Nasukarasuyama Chuoh 1-1-1
- TEL：0287-83-1115
- Website
- Yama-age Matsuri
- https://www.nasukara-yamaage.jp/
