Oama Tenshi-gu Hi-no-Kami Festival

Active

Category Name:Rites and Festivals (folk belief)

'Hiwatari Shinji' an ancient fire walking Shinto ritual is held at Oama Tenshigu Shrine (also known as Oama Shrine) annually on the 2nd Saturday of October* (*used to be October 15th). The shrine was built in 713 and the founder is said to have been the then Governor of Higo Province, Michinokimi-no-Obitona. Legend says that when Obitona first arrived in Higo, there was a terrible epidemic. In order to prevent the epidemic from spreading further he performed a fire walking ritual over hot coals and successfully avoided being burned. The ‘Hiwatari Shinji’ fire-walking Shinto ritual is based on this legend and has a history of about 1,300 years.

Municipality

Tamana City

Category

Rites and Festivals (folk belief)

Specific Location

Oama, Tensui-machi, Tamana City

Cultural Property Designation

Tamana City Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property March 23, 2011

Performance Date(s)

A Saturday in early October

Performance Location

Oama Tenshi-gu (1170 Oama, Tensui-machi, Tamana City)

Preservation Society

Oama ""Hi-no-Kami Matsuri" Preservation Society