October 14 is the eve of the Nada Fighting Festival every year. The festival began more than one thousand years ago.
The Shirahama area consists of 7 towns. Each town has one yatai or portable shrine, so there are seven yatais in total. Each yatai marches to their own town in the morning of Oct. 14.
In our case, our yatai passed in front of our place around 10:30 a.m. My husband and I took the pictures from the veranda upstairs.
At first please watch the one minute and half youtube site below:
Please click then (↓)
To write this article, I visited the web page of Onozomi.com and revised some parts as the eyes of a local citizen.
QUOTE
There is a parade of 7 yatai (portable shrine), called Neridashi from 11 am at Matsubara Hachiman Shrine. They march from their villages to the shrine and enter the ground. After all yatai gather, they have carrying competition called Neriawase. Even though it looks dangerous when all yatai try to attack one another, the main event on next day is even harder!
As the word ‘Kenka’ means fighting, this is a festival dedicated to the God of fighting. 3 mikoshi (portable shrine) fight and try to break down one another in front of the god. In addition to that, carrying competition of 7 yatai (gorgeous portable shrine) from 7 areas in Shirahama town, Himeji city is also main part of this festival. The harder their mikoshi and yatai crash, the more the god is pleased. This very a tough, dangerous but very exciting festival and is surely a must-see event for autumn!
On 15 October, there is a ritual bathing ceremony from 5am, followed by the opening ceremony called Miyairi, at which 7 yatai gather in the ground of the shrine again (this will be at around 9am). After this, 3 portable shrines from one village which is in charge of hosting the festival (*7 villages take turns.) fight. They fight twice, taking place in front of the main building of the shrine and in the battleground set on the foot of Otabi Mountain. When the fighting finishes, 7 yatai enter the battleground and start fight with one another. You can see exiting collisions and feel the passion of participants. After all fighting are ended, 3 portable shrines and 7 yatai are carried to the top of the mountain, humbly given to the God.
‘Kenka’ sound booming all over the mountain
Big sounds are made every time the mikoshi and yatai clash, carrying men keep shouting vigorously throughout the festival, Japanese drums are played along with ‘neriawase’ and ‘kenka’. Spectators also shout as they felt the excitement of the battle. This festival is full of booming sound as if is the whole mountain is shaking all over.
Where to watch?
There are standing seats available for everyone behind the special seats at the foot of Otabi Mountain. It is a little bit far from the ground, but it is free. Also there is a big television set next to the battleground, which is broadcasting the festival for free. It is much safer choice to watch the live broadcast if you are scared of watching the ‘kenka’ closely!
UNQUOTE
More information below:
Japan National Tourism organization: the official guide
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/festival/nadanokenka.html
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