Takayama Festivals On Shinto Day

Added: 10/26/2007

Shinto is Japan’s native religion, dating back to over six hundred years BC. Different festivals of Shinto day are celebrated in various parts of the year in Japan. People exhibit great enthusiasm and joy on Shinto festivals, working together to decorate floats and carry idols of deities in processions. The most attractive Shinto day festival of Japan is usually regarded as that held in the country side of Takayama.

Shinto, commonly interpreted as ‘the way of the gods,’ is an ancient Japanese religion dating as far back in time as 660 BC. Shinto is not a single, unifying set of beliefs like other major religions of the world. It has instead grown from various ancient traditions central to which are the main themes of the divine nature of the creation of life, its renewal, and its affirmation. Over the centuries, Shinto has become more than a religion for Japanese people. It is a concept of living in good faith and habits, promoting mutualism and sharing joy.

Shinto used to be Japan’s state religion until the Second World War after which it was officially removed from the status of state religion. Complete religious freedom to all Japanese citizens was announced in 1946 by the Emperor Hirohito. However, Shinto continued to be Japan’s native religion and a number of Shinto day festivals are celebrated to date. People walk across cities and towns in the form of processions, carrying a representation of the god to which the festival is devoted. Traditional music is played as the procession carries the idol across the town.

Different shrines in Japan celebrate their own special Shinto day and the occasion is not limited to a single day of the year. Also, different festivals are set out from different shrines in the country on different days. The most famous Shinto day, perhaps, is the Takayama Festival. It is observed biannually, once on April 14/15 (Takayama Spring Festival) and later on October 9/10 (Takayama Autumn Festival) the same year in the country town of Takayama.

The Spring Festival of Shinto day in Takayama is held at a time when the snow at the base of the mountains melts away, letting the ground appear after months of obscurity. Music played on drums in the neighboring villages can be heard for a long distance. Takayama Autumn Festival marks the end of a hot summer and is welcomed by people with the same fervor as the earlier festival of the year. Floats are decorated with colorful embellishments like dolls, carvings, and curtains etc.

Festivity of Shinto day in Takayama is also considered of social significance. It is generally thought that the festivals provide an outlet for wealthy members of the society to spend generously on the arrangements for celebration and hence the occasion allows money to reach the worker class. In addition, floats are constructed and decorated in groups, a practice that furthers the sense of belongingness among various families of the community. The competition of making the best-looking float is an exciting part of Shinto day festivals.

Celebrations of Shinto day in Takayama are not confined to the day time only but also amuse the people in the evening when the festival floats are carried through the streets of the town. However, the evening festival may be cut short or cancelled altogether on account of rough weather. Today, it is not a festival of the Japanese people only but tourists from around the world visit Takayama to enjoy the celebrations of Shinto day.

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