FESTIVALS September 2022
FESTIVALS
Sep. 1 BOSAI-NO-HI (Disaster Prevention Day)
Disaster Prevention Day was established in 1960 in order to remind us Japanese of the serious consequences of disasters caused by typhoons, tidal waves, earthquakes, tsunami etc., and to prepare ourselves to cope with them. The week from August 30 to Sept. 5 is called Disaster Prevention Week, during which disaster drills are held in many districts. It is also a time to make sure we have emergency supplies in our homes and that we know where the closest evacuation center is.
July 14-Dec. 2 THE 27th NATIONAL EXHIBITION OF KAMABOKO-ITA -NO-E
9:00-17:00 (Closed on Tuesday) at GALLERY SHIROKAWA Shirokawa-cho, Seiyo City
The national exhibition of paintings on kamaboko (fish-paste) boards started in 1995. This year 6,148 paintings were sent from all over the country and abroad. The painting which won the first prize this year is the one titled “Ochinai kimi （unfallen you)”. It was painted by Kubo Teruaki from Miyazaki prefecture to represent a beetle resting on a broken wood wall on a summer day. (Tel. 0894-82-1001)
June 1-Sept. 20 UKAI (Cormorant Fishing) on the Hiji-kawa (river) Ozu City
This year Ukai in Ozu city will be held after a two-year interval. In Japan the tradition of fishing with cormorants goes back at least a thousand years. In Ozu it started as a tourist attraction in 1957 and now the Hiji-kawa is one of the three most famous ukai spots in Japan, including Nagara-gawa in Gifu Prefecture and Mikuma-gawa in Oita Prefecture. The fishing is done from a boat called u-bune, which is lit by torches as it sails down the Hiji-kawa, which runs through Ozu. Cormorant fishermen called usho, beat the sides of the boats to encourage trained cormorants to catch fish. Long strings are attached to rings around the birds’ necks, which prevent them from swallowing fish. When a cormorant makes a catch, a fisherman pulls the bird in and has it cough up the fish on the boat. Ukai is viewed by awase-ukai in which u-bune and yakata-bune, boats for sightseers, sail down the river side by side. You can order a bento to eat on board or just ride the boat and watch, and some hotels offer a special ukai package. Ukai will be canceled if the weather is bad. Various plans are provided.
You need to make a reservation in advance at Ozu kanko sogo-annaisho (Tel. 0893-57-6655).
https://jp.visitozu.com/archives/feature/132
Transportation: Take a JR express train bound for Uwajima and get off at Ozu (a 40-minute ride). From the station take a taxi. Or on foot it takes 30 minutes to get to the river.
Sept. 3 YUYAKE (Sunset) PLATFORM CONCERT 16:50-19:10 At JR Shimonada station in Futami-cho, Iyo City
A music concert is held on the platform of JR Shimonada station. The station is very close to the sea, and you can enjoy a beautiful sunset, as well as nice music.This year the concert is held without audience like last year and distributed over the internet http://iyokankou.jp/event/entry/000112.html
Imotaki in Ehime
In Ehime prefecture about this time of the year we have a tradition of eating imotaki, a kind of stew with taro, chicken and various ingredients. We enjoy eating and chatting with our families, fellow workers, and friends outdoors, usually by the river side.
Deai no imotaki Sept. 17 – Oct. 22 18:00-21:30 Tel. 089-989-5506
Under Deai-bashi , on the right side of Shigenobu-gawa river side in Matsuyama city
Price: 1,800 yen (Reserved) 2,000 yen (Day)
http://www.ryouin-mattyuu.sakura.ne.jp/imotaki/index.html
Goshikihama kangetsu (moon viewing) imotaki Mid Sept. – Oct. 9 17:00-21:00 Tel. 089-982-0360
Goshikihama Seaside Park in Iyo city
Price: 1,700 yen (Reserved) 1,900 yen (Day) Canceled in case of rain.
Welpia-Iyo imotaki Sept. 1 – Oct. 31 Welpia-Iyo in Iyo city Tel. 089-983-4500
Price:2,000 yen Course /2,700 yen Course (To be reserved by 3 days before)
https://welpiaiyo.jp/event
Kawauchi imotaki
Shigenobu-gawa river side in Toon city Tel. 089-966-5288
Details of the event have not been announced yet.
https://twiter.com/kawauchiimotaki
Ozu no imotaki August 28-Mid Oct. Sunset-21:00 Tel. 0893-24-2664 (Nehoji-templeriver side in Ozu city)
Price: 2,500 yen ~ (Reserved) Canceled in case of rain.
Tsukimi or Kangetsu (Moon Viewing)
Autumn is the season of moon viewing. Mangetsu, the full moon (harvest moon) in autumn is the largest and clearest of the year and so it is special in Japan. We call it Chushu no meigets
(the full moon of August 15th by the lunar calendar). This year the full moon is on the night of September 10th. In many homes, a small table is set on the south side of the house where the moonlight pours in. On the table susuki, Japanese pampas grass, which is said to invite the gods, is arranged. Anything round like the moon, such as tsukimi dango, sweet dumplings, edamame, green soybeans, grapes or satoimo, taro, is offered. It is said that the custom of moon viewing was introduced from China in the 8th century. In the Heian era (792~1180) the imperial court appreciated the beautiful moon and competed in composing waka poetry..In the Edo era (1600~1867) this custom spread among common people. The autumn season is also favored because of the cooler evenings when singing insects give full voice amid the tall autumn grasses and flowers.
Sep. 10 YOKAICHI MACHINAMI KANGETSUKAI (Moon Viewing Festival)
About 18:30-21:00 In Yokaichi, Uchiko-cho
To appreciate the full moon, a moon viewing festival is held in Yokaichi Gokoku Important Traditional Building Preservation District in Uchiko. Along the streets houses built more than one hundred years ago are lit by andon, lanterns made of green bamboo hung in front of the houses, and visitors enjoy strolling on the long autumn evening.
Many events are held throughout the town.
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19:20/ 20:20 A concert of shinobue, Japanese transverse bamboo flute, and keyboard is held at Kami-haga House, which was built in 1904 as the homestead of the Haga family. and is now a wax museum. The Haga Family made their fortune manufacturing wax from the 19th to the early 20th century.
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18:30 Koto Concert
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18:30 Haiku contribution at many places downtown.
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Display of pieces of hakushoku 箔飾washi (Japanese traditional hand-made paper)
You should go early and walk around Uchiko town. The old kabuki theater Uchiko-za, an old drugstore, and local craftsmen making traditional Japanese candles are worth seeing. https://www.we-love-uchiko.jp/event top/event5
(Tel. 0893-44-5212)
Transportation: Take the JR limited express train bound for Uwajima from Matsuyama and get off at Uchiko, a 20-minute ride. From the station it is a 30-minute walk to the district.
Sept. 19 KEIRO-NO-HI (Respect-for-the-Aged Day) National Holiday
Respect-for-the-aged day was instituted in 1966 as a national holiday to express thanks and respect for older people and pray for their health. In Japan, as in China, we celebrate their longevity as well as their health on the 60th and 70th birthdays. We have even more celebrations for ages 77, 88 and 99 because double numbers are favored in the belief that luck also doubles in those years.
Sept. 23 SHUBUN-NO-HI (Autumn Equinox) National Holiday
Shubun-no-hi is the central day of Higan week (20th -26th). According to Buddhist custom, during the week people visit their family graves, clean them and offer incense and flowers. It is believed that on this day one can meet one’s ancestors. The symbol flower of Higan is higan-bana, a cluster amaryllis that blooms at this time in the fields. It has no leaves at first, just flowers, and the root is poisonous.
NOTES: Events might be canceled or postponed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. Please check the latest information.
