#onbashira

御柱 手長神社

The Grand Suwa Shrine Part II; according to the Nihon Shoki, or the historical chronicle - The Book of Japan, the Suwa Grand Shrine, also known as Suwa Jinja or Suwa Daimyojin, states that the Suwa Daimyojin may date as early as the 6th Century AD/CE!! Initially thought to be a local shrine to ancient, earthly Kami spirits of boundaries, villages & community, or Mishaguji, before the descent of heavenly Kami to Japan, the Suwa Shrine, in legend, also became the location where the old God, Suwa Daimyojin, also known as Takeminakata, retired after being exiled by the heavenly Shinto God - Takemikazuchi. It is said that when the heavenly Kami descended to Earth and encountered Izumo, the ancient elder God of the whole of Japan (Ashihara no Nakatsukuni), they first and foremost demanded his surrender to the authority of the heavenly Kami and formal recognition of Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess. Izumo's oldest son, Kotoshironushi, advised compliance, but Izumo's second son - Takeminakata - refused, and instead challenged the heavenly messenger - Takemikazuchi, to a test of strength. Ultimately defeated by Takemikazuchi's ability to transform his extremities into unbreakable ice swords (right?), Takeminakata, wounded and having lost one arm in the test of strength, retreated to the Suwa region of Japan, in Nagano Prefecture, in the wooded mountains by a serene lake where he retired there with his wife & significant other - Yasakatome. Regaining his strength over many centuries, the site where his arm landed being erected as an auxiliary shrine, the old God Takemikazuchi never lost his prestige as the ancient old God of wind, war, strength, combat, water, hunting and agriculture. When present at the shrine, you can feel the presence of this jovial old God of strength, and pray for his blessings at the central shrine, or at any of the Onbashira, or hewn logs that are placed at each of the four corners of the shrine from the Onbashira festival held every six years, where in a tribute of strength to Takeminakata, locals will hew six trees, ride them down the mountain (Yamadashi) holding on to nothing but ropes, and subsequently drag them across the river in the second half of the festival held one month later. As a note, it should be said that a human named Koga Saburo is also associated with the Suwa shrine. After a journey through the underworld in search of his wife, who was kidnapped by tengu-demons, it is said that Saburo emerged as a great Dragon Serpent after battling with (and defeating) an underworld serpent in a final, epic battle.

This is not just a photo of a massive log or old telephone poles. This is an Onbashira located at Suwa Grand Shrine. All four shrines in the Suwa shrine complex have an onbashira at each corner. Every 6 years (the year of the tiger and monkey), the men in Suwa region fell 16 fir trees for the Onbashira (御柱祭) festival. During the festival’s Yamadashi (for 2022, the Yamadashi was scheduled for April 8-10 however due to covid they cancelled this part) where fearless festival participants ride, some stand, on the logs that slides down a 35 degree mountain. A month later, during the Satobiki festival the logs are paraded and erected at each four shrines. The logs could weigh up to 12 tons therefore during various parts of the festival many get injured or die. You can search for videos of past Onbashira festivals to see the excitement. #Onbashira #mostdangerousfestivalinJapan #japanfestival #suwashrine https://www.instagram.com/p/CcT68SQvc5m/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

天下　だそうだ。

Old poster

Such an interesting video on an unique Japanese festival.  To read more about the tradition and understand the meaning behind the actions click here.

July 31, 2016 Spent the day at a taiko festival in Matsumoto. Afterwards, the group from Onbashira (held every 7 years in Chino and Suwa, Nagano) did mini performances.