Takayama Aki

Matsuri
Takayama Aki Matsuri

Takayama Autumn festival

After a hot summer when a cool autumn
wind begins to blow, the Hachiman Matsuri,
held October 9th and 10th, signifies the
coming of Autumn. Thus,this festival is
called the Takayama Autumn Festival. The
Takayama Festival popularly refers to these
two festivals in Takayama .

Even though the origin of the festival is

unknown, it is believed that the festival
started between 1586 and 1692 when the
Kanamori family governed the Hida
Takayama area.

In a letter dated August 29,

1692, to Kagahan, presently
Shikawa Prefecture, it was
stated that the Takayama
Festival had been held for
the last 40 years.
 This festival is regarded as one of the
three most beautiful festivals in Japan.
The predominant reason for this is that
the main attractions of the Takayama
Festival are the magnificent floats, which
are equal in splendor to the Yomeimon
Gate of Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
All floats are beautifully decorated with carvings, dolls,
elaborately woven thick curtains, lacquerware, and
bamboo blinds.
These exquiste decorationsare found not only on the
outside where they are seen by the crowds, such as
under the roof and behind the doors, where eleborate
carvings can be found.
In olden days, the artisants and tradesmen of Takayama, who
had accumulated great wealth, were prohibited from using their
wealth for the purpose of upgrading their social standings.
Therefore, they used their wealth in beautifying their daily
lives. The festival was one outlet for their wealth. Year by year,
the festivals became more and more extravagant.

There are 25 festival floats in Takayama, 12 for Spring, 11 for

Autumn,and 2 for others. In June, 1969, Spring and Autumn
festival floats were designated as important cultural assets by
the national government.

Festivals are a mixture of the cultures of various periods. Some

events originated in ancient times. Others started from the
Middle Ages, and
still others found their beginnings in modern times.
The assimilation of these festivals, spanning many centuries, is
the foundation of todays festivals.

Therefore, festival link the past to the present and the present
to the
future. They will no doubt continue to help maintain the
The puppets or marionettes are made of wood, silk and brocade
or embroidered cloth. They are operated by strings and push
rods from within the yatai. The puppets like the Yatai represent
the skilled craftsmen of the area.

The puppets or The three marionettes on Hotei Tai (the god of

fortune) require 9 puppet masters to manipulate the 36 strings
which make the marionettes move in a lifelike manner, with
gestures, turns and other movements.

A problem with the puppets are the parts needed to repair

them. The springs in the puppets are made of Right whale
baleen and cannot be replaced with steel
springs or the baleen of other whales.

Other materials used to make the springs cannot

duplicate the movements of the springs made with
Right whale baleen.