What are Matsuri?
Since ancient times, Japanese have gathered at sacred places—a great boulder, or ancient tree—in order to commune with the kami. There, they made offerings and prayed for the safety and prosperity of their communities.
This is the origin of the festivals, ceremonies, and rituals collectively known as matsuri. Many matsuri are tied to the yearly calendrical cycle of events and are held in spring to offer prayers for a bountiful harvest, and in autumn to give thanks for providing the season's crops.
Matsuri are symbolic of ancient Japanese traditions and customs, sacred rituals that come in two aspects: One is ‘matsuri as religious service’, and the other is ‘matsuri as entertainment for the kami’. The former refers to One solemn rituals conducted in front of the kami by Shinto priests as representatives of local communities, while the latter are lively, festive events sometimes involving mikoshi, or portable shrines, where an often-raucous procession ritually transfers the kami to a new resting place. Many traditional performing arts, such as sumo and Noh, are also dedicated to the kami-another example of matsuri as entertainment.
Although these two aspects of matsuri may seem quite different, the blessings received from the kami remain the same.
Through matsuri, the Japanese celebrate and pray for the kami, and together both kami and participants are rejuvenated. Matsuri are rituals to both strengthen the bonds and solidarity within a community and connect that community to the kami.
Matsuri Performed at Okuni Jinja
An annual cycle of many matsuri is performed through spring, summer, autumn, and winter to offer gratitude and prayers to the kami. These include events of great cultural value, which have been preserved here across the centuries.
The most noteworthy are, perhaps, the the Junidan-bugaku, a national Importart Intangible Folk Cultural Property that is thought to date back to the seventh century, and the Taasobi-sai, a nationally designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property that is said to date back to the thirteenth century.
Junidan bugaku performed in Rei-sai
For more detail, click through to the page:
Matsuri in Okuni Jinja
Annual Rituals and Ceremonies at Okuni Jinja
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aug
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
二月
February
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Setsubun-sai 節分祭
• Hongusan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Hatsukinoene-sai 初甲子祭
• Kenkoku-sai 建國祭
• Rei-sai 例祭
• Kinen-sai 祈年祭
• Tencho-sai 天長祭
2月
February
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai 真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha 鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki 春季皇霊祭遙拝式
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Setsubun-sai 節分祭
• Hongusan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Hatsukinoene-sai 初甲子祭
• Kenkoku-sai 建國祭
• Rei-sai 例祭
• Kinen-sai 祈年祭
• Tenchō-sai 天長祭
二月
February
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai 真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha 鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki 春季皇霊祭遙拝式
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Setsubun-sai
節分祭
• Hongusan-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Hatsukinoene-sai
初甲子祭
• Kenkoku-sai
建國祭
• Rei-sai
例祭
• Kinen-sai
祈年祭
• Tenchō-sai
天長祭
一月
January
• Hatsukito-sai 初祈祷祭
• Saitan-sai 歳旦祭
• Hatsumode 初詣
• Onikku-sai 日供始祭
• Genshi-sai 元始祭
• Tsuina-sai 追儺祭
• Taasobi-sai 田遊祭
• Taasobi-shinji 田遊び神事
• Hongusan-rei-sai 本宮山例祭
• Shimmeigu-sampai 神明宮参拝
• Chona-hajime-sai 手釿始祭
• Dondoyaki-matsuri どんど焼祭
• Hachiojishareisai-reisai 八王子社例祭
• Oyumihajime-sai 御弓始祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Kannoushinohino-mizukumi-sai 寒の丑の日水汲祭
• Yakuyoke-taisai 厄除大祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai 真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha 鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki 春季皇霊祭遙拝式
一月
January
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai 真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha 鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki 春季皇霊祭遙拝式
• Hatukitō-sai
初祈祷祭
• Saitan-sai
歳旦祭
• Hatsumōde
初詣
• Onikku-sai
日供始祭
• Genshi-sai
元始祭
• Tsuina-sai
追儺祭
• Taasobi-sai
田遊祭
• Taasobi-shinji
田遊び神事
• Hongūsanrei-sai
本宮山例祭
• Shimmeigū-sanpai
神明宮参拝
• Chōnahajime-sai
手釿始祭
• Dondoyaki-matsuri
どんど焼祭
• Hachiōjisha-reisai
八王子社例祭
• Oyumihajime-sai
御弓始祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Kannoushinohino-mizukumi-sai
寒の丑の日水汲祭
• Yakuyoke-taisai
厄除大祭
五月
May
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Tango-sai 端午祭（こども祭）
• Hongu-san Aoba-sai 本宮山青葉祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai
真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha
鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki
春季皇霊祭遙拝式
四月
April
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sakura-matsuri さくらまつり
• Kangaku-sai 勧学祭
• Hongusan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Sugi-sai 杉祭
• Zenkoku-ichimiya-togodensha-rei-sai 全国一宮等合殿社例祭
• Ogori-sai 垢籬祭
• Maizoroe 舞揃
• Kenei-sai 献詠祭
• Zenjitsu-sai 前日祭
• Rei-sai 例祭
• Ujikoirihokoku-sai 氏子入り奉告祭
• Junidan-bugaku-hoso 十二段舞楽奉奏
• Shinko-sai 神幸祭
• Mikoshi-togyo 神輿渡御
• Kencha-sai 献茶祭
• Mikomai-hono 神子舞奉納
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai
真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha
鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki
春季皇霊祭遙拝式
六月
June
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Hanashobuenkaien-hokoku-sai
花菖蒲園開園奉告祭
• Hanashobu-matsuri
花菖蒲まつり
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Otaue-sai
御田植祭
• Oharae-shiki
大祓式
七月
July
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Atago Jinja rei-sai
愛宕神社例祭
九月
September
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Shuki-korei-sai-yohai-shiki 秋季皇霊祭遙拝式
• Onbashira-sai 御柱祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Shuki-korei-sai-yohai-shiki
秋季皇霊祭遙拝式
• Onbashira-sai
御柱祭
十月
October
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Shirahige-jinja-rei-sai 白鬚神社例祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Kanname-sai-yohai-shiki 神嘗祭遙拝式
• Kanname-sai-hoshuku-sai 神嘗祭奉祝祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Fukushinzo-hampu-shiki 福神像頒布式
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Shirahige-jinja-rei-sai
白鬚神社例祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Kanname-sai-yohai-shiki
神嘗祭遙拝式
• Kanname-sai-hoshuku-sai
神嘗祭奉祝祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Fukushinzo-hampu-shiki
福神像頒布式
十一月
November
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Shichi-go-san-mairi 七五三詣り
• Meiji-sai 明治祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Yama Jinja Rei-sai 山神社例祭
• Shichi-go-san-shuku-sai 七五三祝祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Ekijin-sai 疫神齋
• Jichin-sai 地鎮祭
• Niiname-sai 新嘗祭
• Koyo-sai 紅葉祭
• Yamaimo-shomi-kai 山芋賞味会
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Shichi-go-san-mairi
七五三詣り
• Meiji-sai
明治祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Yama Jinja Rei-sai
山神社例祭
• Shichi-go-san-shuku-sai
七五三祝祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Ekijin-sai
疫神齋
• Jichin-sai
地鎮祭
• Niiname-sai
新嘗祭
• Koyo-sai
紅葉祭
• Yamaimo-shomi-kai
山芋賞味会
十二月
December
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Tango-sai 端午祭（こども祭）
• Hongu-san Aoba-sai 本宮山青葉祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Takimiyasha Rei-sai
滝宮社例祭
• Hatsuhokenno-sai
初穂献納祭
• Chinka-sai
鎮火祭
• Susuharai-sai
煤拂祭
• Oharae-shiki
大祓式
• Joya-sai
除夜祭
十二月
December
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Takimiyasha Rei-sai 滝宮社例祭
• Hatsuhokenno-sai 初穂献納祭
• Chinka-sai 鎮火祭
• Susuharai-sai 煤拂祭
• Oharae-shiki 大祓式
• Joya-sai 除夜祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Takimiyasha Rei-sai 滝宮社例祭
• Hatsuhokenno-sai 初穂献納祭
• Chinka-sai 鎮火祭
• Susuharai-sai 煤拂祭
• Oharae-shiki 大祓式
• Joya-sai 除夜祭
三月
March
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sanada-joshi-irei-sai 真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha 鉾執社
• Shunki-korei-sai-yohai-shiki 春季皇霊祭遙拝式
2月
February
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai 真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha 鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki 春季皇霊祭遙拝式
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Setsubun-sai 節分祭
• Hongusan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Hatsukinoene-sai 初甲子祭
• Kenkoku-sai 建國祭
• Rei-sai 例祭
• Kinen-sai 祈年祭
• Tenchō-sai 天長祭
三月
March
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai 真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha 鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki 春季皇霊祭遙拝式
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Sanada-joshi-irei-sai
真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha
鉾執社
• Shunki-korei-sai-yohai-shiki
春季皇霊祭遙拝式
八月
August
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai 真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha 鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki 春季皇霊祭遙拝式
八月
August
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Hongūsan-tsukinami-sai 本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai 月次祭
• Sanadajōshi-irei-sai 真田城趾慰霊祭
• Hokotorisha 鉾執社
• Shunki-kōreisai-yōhaishiki 春季皇霊祭遙拝式
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
• Hongu-san-tsukinami-sai
本宮山月次祭
• Tsukinami-sai
月次祭
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