Seihaku Sai Festival and its Hikiyama Ritual
3-5 May, Nanao (Ishikawa prefecture)
This traditional festival, which is passed down in the city of Nanao, is the ritual that each of the three neighboring towns having Hikiyama floats offer food with decoration of Kashiwa leaves and three large Hirakiyama-type of Hikiyama floats for divines. It is an important symbol representing the start of spring in this region.
The ritual was commanded by the elder leader of Hikiyama group, and young members are divided into several roles to carry Hikiyama, such as Tsunamoto, Kizukai and Teko-gakari, and pull the floats along the prescribed route with the cooperation of local people in the town.
During the parade, people play traditional songs for the festival float such as Hikidasi song, Douchu song, Hikikomi song conducted by Kizukai. When the Hikiyama float changes its direction, it is a very impressive scene of people lifting a 20t float using the 8m lever and turning it using small floats.
- Organizer:
- Seihaku Sai Dekayama Hozonkai
- Contact Details
- 〒926-0045
- Ishikawa Nanao Sodegae-machi I 25
- Nanao city council Industrial department, commerce and tourism division
- TEL：0767-53-8424
- Website
- Hot Ishikawa Travel Net Seihaku Festival
- https://www.hot-ishikawa.jp/event/5674
- Seihaku Sai Dekayama Hozonkai Nanao Chamber of Commerce and Industry Official Website
- https://www.nanao-cci.or.jp/dekayama/
