令和7年5月4日・滋賀県米原市・福田寺の春の伝統祭り「公家奴振り」”Kuge-Yakko” Procession, Maibara, Shiga Prefecture
Maibara, Shiga Prefecture It is May 5, 2025, and we have come to Maibara City, which is located on the shores of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. Today’s event centers on Kumano Shrine and the adjacent Fukuda-ji, a temple with deep ties to Kyoto. In the late Edo period (around 1850), the head priest of Fukuda-ji married Kaneko, a cousin of the Meiji Emperor’s Empress Dowager); a marriage that had been arranged by Ii Naosuke, Lord of Hikone Domain. The wedding procession – from Kyoto to present-day Nagasawa in Maibara City – featured the participation of “Kuge Yakko” (who are represented by the men that we see here), who were servants of the nobility. It is said that the local people were so impressed by the movements and gestures of the “Kuge Yakko” that they passed down the tradition of “Kuge Yakko-buri” processions to future generations, as manifested in today’s event. This procession is unique, in that the “Kuge Yakko” are servants of the nobility, rather than servants of warriors (samurai). The procession is also unique in terms of the slow movements of the men, who never show the soles of their feet. The men are chanting: “Yoiyase, arewaisanosa” . Today, the tradition of Kuge Yakko-buri processions is kept alive by the Nagasawa Fukuda-ji Kuge-Yakko Preservation Society. Processions featuring the servants of samurai (“Buke Yakko), can be seen in various areas of Japan, but “Kuge-Yakko” can only be seen at this event. This “Kuge-Yakko” procession has been designated as an intangible folk cultural asset by Shiga Prefecture, as a valuable resource for conveying ancient customs. The procession is now being joined by Shinto priests, shrine maidens and local officials. The procession will make its way into Kumano Shrine. The Kuge-Yakko have arrived at the shrine, and will shortly leave before a Shinto ceremony will take place A group of shrine maidens (Miko-san) is now entering the Worship Hall. Here, the shrine maidens line up to hand over offerings to the gods.
全国で唯一と言われる「公家奴振り」をご覧ください。米原市長沢の熊野神社で5月4日、福田寺公家奴振保存会の皆さんが「エンヤマカナーイ」「アレワイサノサ」の掛け声とともに神社の参道を練り歩きました。
This video shows scenes from the “Kuge-Yakko” Procession, a unique event, held on May 4 every year in and around Kumano Shrine in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture. While “Buke-Yakko” processions (featuring the servants of samurai) can be seen in various parts of Japan, “Kuge-Yakko” processions (featuring servants of Japanese nobility) can only be seen in this location.
#japaneseculture #japanesefestival #滋賀県