004.Hachinohe 01.Hachinohe Sanzya Taisai Festival (Japan)

2021-02-09

Every time I visit Hachinohe, I feel that it is a town rich in intangible factors.

See the highlight of "Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival" is "Otosi".

It has a long history, but there are neither wonderful historical buildings nor old streetscapes. So, the town is not attractive? No! It doesn't rely on tangible factors but is lively with intangible factors. While many Japanese towns are groping on town development by intangible factors, Hachinohe may be a pioneer because a part of its intangible factors dates back to 300 years ago.

"Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival" held in the summer, which huge floats and processions parade through the downtown, began in 1721 to thank the abundance of grains. It is said that it also had the aim to attract people to Hachinohe town and to flourish commerce. In 1887, Tamon Osawa, an entertainment promoter, added a grander device to revitalize the town. It is the forerunner of a town revitalization project by a producer.

The festival highlight is "Otoshi". The floats expand to a height of about 4 floors by a vertical lifting device and a folding device. The 27 floats are handmade by the residents of the neighborhood association. It is remade every year, and a part of groups takes half a year to produce. Styrene foam and plywood are painted and decorated with costumes. Those are materials easy to elaborate on. So, they don't rely on professionals. How great community power the town has! The festival that is repeated every year inherits the system and the spirit of town revitalization.