🏮 Kozako no Ennen

小迫の延年

Kurihara, Miyagi (Hakusan Shrine) · Every year on the 1st Sunday of April

Traditional performing arts

202 days to go
Rooms around Kurihara, Miyagi fill up while the festival is on.

Kosako no Ennen is a festival held at Hakusan Shrine in Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture, dedicated before the spring farming season and designated a nationally important intangible folk cultural property. A traditional event continuing since the Kamakura period, it preserves an ancient, solemn atmosphere. Its origin is said to date back to Minamoto no Yoritomo, who dedicated it to Hakusan Shrine in gratitude for victory in the Oshu War. With its long history, the festival has been positioned at the foundation of the region's faith and farming culture. In the shrine grounds, seven performances are presented, including the Iri-mai, said to have been danced by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro to pray for victory in battle, and the Dengaku-mai, danced to pray for a good harvest. In particular, the flower hats thrown to the audience are believed to become charms for good harvest and protection from evil if taken home, and are familiar to attendees.