Aso no Noukou Saiji (Aso Agricultural Rituals)
Active
Category Name:Production and Livelihood
The agricultural rituals of Aso are held mainly at Aso Shrine and Kokuzo Shrine in Aso Valley, Kyushu. These ancient rituals take place throughout the four seasons, there are ceremonies praying for a good harvest, giving gratitude for the harvest, praying against wind damage and frost damage. These rituals are rare and important examples of tradititional agricultural culture and the beliefs of the common people of Japan. Aso Shrine holds the following agricultural ceremonies and rituals: Toukasechie, Uno Matsuri (Day of the Rabbit festival), Tatsukuri Matsuri (Rice Planting Festival), Fuchin Matsuri (Wind calming festival), Otaue Shinko Shiki (Otaue Rice Cultivation Ceremony), Emori Nagashi (Night time singing ritual) , Hitaki no Sai (Fire burning ritual) and Tanomi Matsuri (Harvest festival). While Kokuzo Shrine holds the following: Utainai Zai (First Singing ritual), Haru Sai (Spring Festival), Fugu Sai (Wind calming festival), Nemuri Nagashi (Night time singing ritual) and Tanomi Matsuri (Harvest Festival)
Municipality
Aso City
Category
Production and Livelihood
Specific Location
Ichinomiya-machi and other places in Aso City
Cultural Property Designation
Nationally designated intangible folk cultural property January 14, 1982
Performance Date(s)
January 13 - September 25 of the lunar calendar (Aso Shrine)January 16 - September 23/24
Performance Location
Aso Shrine, Kokuzo Shrine and others