019.Tsumari 03.Little New Year

2023-03-08

Tsumari is sometimes called a treasure trove of folklore, and the traditional scenery, life, and customs remain. Because, during the bubble economy period in the 1980s, the development of Tsumari didn't advance due to inconvenient transportation, in contrast with the Uono River basin on the other side of the mountain, which was easily accessible by high-speed train and highway, transformed significantly by resort condominiums and factories, and, it was after the bubble bursted and ended that the access to Tsumari was improved by the inauguration of the train and high-standard road.

On January 14th and 15th, various traditional ceremonies of the Little New Year, which condense old-fashioned Tsumari, are held in the snow.

January 15th, after 2pm : In "Muko-nage (Throw away the groom)'' , the groom of a couple who got married in the previous year is thrown away by his fellow from the cliff.
https://goo.gl/maps/D9Sdsm4YeF7nxQDX8

On the night of the 14th, the giant snow dome "Honyarado" and "Torioi (Chase away birds)" are held. Tsumari's Honyarado is bigger than the snow dome in other areas because of the heavy snow or the region's swelling preference by any chance. It is impossible to build the big roof with snow, so they covers steel plates or sheets on wooden and bamboo frames. Children gather and enjoy sweets inside. Afterwards it's time for "Torioi". While beating clappers and singing Tori-oi songs, children walk through dark fields and villages to chase away birds that pick grains and pray for a bountiful harvest. Locals also contribute a celebration of sweets in front of their entrance of each house in the village.

On the morning of the 15th, the "Sekki-ichi (Season Market)" is held on the approach to Suwa Shrine in downtown Tokamachi. The stands deal in straw and bamboo crafts made during the off-season for farming, oval gold coins and lucky charms made from Shinko (rice flour), which are used for omen events, and the zodiac signs doll "Chinkoro" made from Shinko (rice flour) that everyone buys. It is a small and cute doll, and if you leave it for a while, it will chip away, but it is said that your wish will come true if it so happened. Since 2023, due to the influence of COVID-19 or parking lot measures, the venue was changed and the atmosphere was gone. After walking along the approach to the shrine and enjoying shopping, it was appropriate for the Little New Year to visit the shrine. I hope to go back to the way it was before.

On the afternoon of the 15th, the "Muko-nage (Throw away the groom)'' and "Sumi-nuri (Paint charcoal)" are held in the adjacent places of Matsunoyama Onsen Hot Spring. In "Muko-nage", the groom of a couple who got married in the previous year is carried by his fellow from the center of the hot spring area and is thrown away from the cliff top in front of a small temple. Since snow piles up on the cliffs, it is OK that he is thrown down. It derives from the revenge by the village men for a man in other village who got married with a maiden in this village, that is, snatched her as the standpoint of the village men. Now the number of marriages has decreased, so grooms from the outside of the region can participate in open recruitment. I have carried my friend, who became the groom. The path to the small temple was so steep that I was out of breath. In the end, I just pretended to carry him.

After "Muko-nage (Throw away the groom)'', "Sumi-nuri (Paint charcoal)" starts. The participants mutually smears their face with straw charcoal that has been baked to celebrate good health. All people enjoyed and can't run away from that.

In the past, January 15th was a fixed traditional holiday and the ceremonies were held on the holiday eve and the holiday. In 2000, the government shifted the holiday to the 2nd Monday of January. Now the ceremonies are often held on a weekday. City dwellers established the system convenient for city dwellers without considering local circumstances and culture. But, in fact, due to the change from the lunar calendar to the solar calendar in 1873, the New Year and Little New Year has already been different from the original seasons on the lunar calendar. Perhaps the argument on traditional culture should go back to that.

Honyarado