Izawanomiya Omita Festival
- April Dykes
- 6月24日
- 読了時間: 2分
Mie Prefecture is home to the most famous shrine in Japan, Ise Jingu, also known as the Ise Grand Shrine. Ise Jingu has 125 betsugu (separate, detached shrines), which include Shima’s Izawanomiya Shrine. According to the Japan Royal Service, Izawanomiya shrine has a special status among the betsugu under Ise Jingu’s Naiku. Every June 24th, Izawanomiya Shrine holds the Izawanomiya Omita Ceremony, a rice planting ceremony known as Isobe no Omita. The Izawanomiya Omita Ceremony is one of Japan’s 3 Shinto rice planting ceremonies, to pray for a good harvest. This ceremony has been designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, solidifying its importance.
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While the exact origins of Izawanomiya Shrine and the ceremony are unknown, its Omita ceremony has records that date back to the Edo period. “ There are documents which indicate the existence of this event in the Genroku period of the Edo period, but the historical documents which show the origin of this event are from the mid-Edo period or later, such as the wooden box in which the drums used in the event are kept, which has an ink inscription from Bunka 5 (1808)” (Cultural Heritage Online).
The origins of the festival are rooted in the legend of the “Falling ears of rice”. The legend states that Yamatohime-no-mikoto came to Shima, a place rich in seafood, while in search of a place to make an offering to Ise Jingu. While in the fields, she saw a manazuru, a white-naped crane, drop an ear of rice. It is said that she was impressed that even a bird knew to give an offering. Inspired by the bird’s rice offering, she had the ears of rice turned into rice that she then offered to Amaterasu Omikami. Since then, rice cultivation has been a religious ceremony practice in Shima.
Since the festival’s revival in 1882, it has been held every year on June 24th. Given the religious nature of the rice planting ceremony, preparations begin on the 23rd with a purification ceremony. After taking a boat to Goryouden, they purify themselves and prepare for the rice planting ceremony. While the religious preparations begin at 8:10 am, the rice planting ceremony starts at 11 am, with the head priest conducting a purification.
According to Izawanomiya Shrine Omita Hall, the ceremony begins with a musical performance that segways into the bamboo cutting event. “After that, the rice planting takes place to the accompaniment of a peaceful Dengaku dance, reminiscent of a Muromachi period Dengaku picture scroll. After this, the participants dress up in costumes and dance lively towards the first torii gate of Izawanomiya, led by the Iri-yaku (a traditional Japanese instrument)” (Izawanomiya Shrine Omita Hall).
Finally, the rice planting begins. Women dressed in traditional clothes begin planting rice while they are accompanied by music and dance. This rich, cultural event is something that combines rice planting, music, and dance.
Have you ever been to a rice planting festival before? Let us know in the comment section below or tag us on social media with your photos! #GivingTuesdayJapan @givingtuesdayjapan
If you’re interested in this festival, be sure to check out the official event page here.
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