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| 1. What is the Hana Matsuri? The Hana Matsuri is a traditional festival of Toei town. Six to seven hundreds years ago, the local people were forced to live with many difficulties because of the steep terrain, natural disasters, and bad crop harvests. Because of this, our ancestors prayed to the goeds for help. They prayed for good health, a better life, and a plentiful harvest of the five main crops (rice, wheat, millet, foxtail millet, and barnyard millet). On top of this, the people also prayed and wished for happiness in their afterlives because of the tragedy of war. |
| On the other hand, there is also another definition. THe Hana Matsuri
festivals have some common characteristics that relate to the culture
of the, "Nanchou" during the Nanbokuchou era. Some people argue that the
festivals originated with a dance, which was performed by a fugitive from
the, "Nanchou" government. The fugitive, who travelled from
Yoshino and hid in this area, might have performed a dance to remind himself/herself
of the happy memories of the capital (Kyoto). At all events of the Hana Matsuri festival, the dances have been performed with our ancestors and wishes in mind. Similar to the history, the residents of Toei always look forward to performing at the festivals and also enjoy the dances, eating the local foods, and drinking Sake. 2. The origin of the Hana Matsuri The origins of the festival has been estimated to have most likely started during the late Kamakura era or the early Muromachi era. Yamabushi (an itinerant priest) of Kumano and Hijiri (a sage) of Kaga Hakusan mountain, brought the festival into the upper basin of the few tributaries of the Tenryuu river. ‚R. What does,"Hana" mean? "Hana" means flowers in Japanese, and, "Matsuri" means festival. Therefore the direct translation of Hana Matsuri is "The Festival of Flowers." When you hear this name, you would imagine that Hana Matsuri is held at during a season when the flowers are in bloom. However, the essence of the Hana Matsuri are a dozen types of dances that have been handed down traditionally by the old itinerant priests and the old ascetics. Then, what does, "Hana" really mean? Many people have argued argued the exact meaning. The dominant definitions are: (1) Hana is defined as the flowers of the five main crops because the festival is performed to invoke a plentiful harvest. (2) Hana is translated as defining the flowers that flourish in the paradise of the after life. Mainly because performing for the festival affects the metempsychosis of the local people. ‚S. What is the highlight of the Hana Matsuri? 
The highlight of the festival is, "The Oni no mai," dance of the demon.
An Oni looks like a demon, but actually it is an embodiment of the god.
Our ancestors believed that the god would appear as a demon to make their
wishes come true. The Hana Matsuri consists of a dozen of various dances. People start dancing in the evening of a Saturday and continue dancing until the evening of the next day. Between midnight and daybreak, few Onis, in red costumes and is carrying big broadaxes, appear on the festival grounds. Then the Onis, audiences, and the residents get excited and in one large group, they circulate around thefestival grounds. The Yubayashi is the climax of the festival. There is a huge iron pot in the middle of the festival ground. The dancers soak a bunch of Sakaki (holy branches) into boiling water and they splash the hot water over the residents and other visitors. People believe that if they are soaked with the hot water, it brings them good health for the year. ‚T. Would you like to know more about Hana Matsuri? The Hana Matsuri is held in many villages in the town of Toei throughout the winter season. Please visit our town and join the excitement and the mystical nature of the Hana Matsuri festivals. |
| 2003 -
2004 Hana Matsuri |
| Note : The dates and times of
the festivals may be changed without notice. Please inquire for the final
dates/times at the Toei Kanou-kyoukai (Tourist Association), TEL. (81) 536-76-1812 Please click the name of the villages to view an article about the characteristics of that particular areas Hana Matsuri. To view maps, please click under the Place section. |
| Village | Place | Date / Time |
| Toei Festival | Toei Dome |
|
| Misono | Misono Shuukaijo |
|
| Kobayashi | Suwa Jinja shrine |
|
| Higashi Sonome | Higashi Sonome sou |
|
| Tsuki | Tsuki Kouminkan |
|
| Ashikome | Ashikome Kouminkan |
|
| Kouchi | Nagamine Jinja Shrine |
|
| Nakashitara | Nakashitara Seikatsu Kaizen Centre |
|
| Nakanzeki | Meijyu Sou |
|
|
Futto |
Futto Kouminkan |
|
|
Shimo Awashiro |
Shimo Awashiro Seikatsu Kaizen Centre | |
|
Fukawa |
Fukawa Kouminkan |
|
|
Information Toei Kanou-kyoukai (Tourist Association), TEL. (81) 536-76-1812 Access by public transport 1. from Tokyo
2. from Shin-Osaka
by car Please get off the Tomei Express Way at the Toyokawa interchange. Then, head north on route 151 (R151, in the direction of Iida city). After 70 minutes of driving (45 kms), you will arrive in Toei. The village maps can be viewed in the above table . 2003/10/01 Update |
(15 min. by