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🏮 Toriide Jinja no Kujira Bune Gyoji

鳥出神社の鯨船行事

Yokkaichi, Mie (Toride Shrine) · Every year on 14 August

Summer festivalFloatsTraditional performing arts

334 days to go
Rooms around Yokkaichi, Mie fill up while the festival is on.

The Toriide Shrine Whale Boat Event is held every year on August 14 and 15 at Toriide Shrine in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture. It is a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and is inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Four groups—Kitajima-gumi, Nakajima-gumi, Minamijima-gumi, and Furukawa-cho—pull whale boat yamaboko (festival floats) named Shrine-maru, Shintoku-maru, Kanno-maru, and Gongen-maru, and perform a simulated whale hunt on land, a event that is rare nationwide. This event regards the whale as a symbol of abundance, and through the act of capturing it, prays for a large catch and prosperity. It is also noted in folklore studies. It preserves the most typical form to the present day. Starting with the fire-extinguishing ceremony on the 14th, each town holds town-dragging, pulling the whale boat floats around, and on the 15th, the main drag into Toriide Shrine (hon-nuri) takes place. To the rhythm of drums, the participants chase a papier-mâché whale; even when driven back by its counterattack, they turn aggressive again, corner it, and finish it off—this series of gallant exchanges is the highlight. The event ends with the evening shrine visit.

Getting there

The nearest station is Kintetsu Kawagoe Tomisuhara Station, about a 10-minute walk. Alternatively, about a 20-minute walk from JR Tomida Station. If using buses, take the Yokkaichi City Community Bus "Kita Route" and get off at Toriide Shrine-mae, which is right there.