◆Easy Access to the Festival
The Oshio Tenmangu Shrine’s Fall Festival takes place each year from October 14-15.
Easy 3-minute walk from the Sanyo train line’s Oshio station!
Oshio was named for its history of salt production. In the 1950’s, you could still see the vast salt farms stretching out around the station.
The purpose of the Oshio Fall Festival was to pray for peace and a bountiful harvest and it became famed for its Lion Dance.
We especially recommend the Hairy Lion Dance on the 14th from 7 PM - 9 PM, and on the 15th from 2 PM - 5 PM.
The night dance on the 14th is particularly thrilling as the Lions come dancing wildly into the shrine one-by-one, illuminated by lights.
We’re attaching a time schedule based on last year’s performance.
◆The Oshio Lion Dance. Different than the normal Lion Dance?
The origin of the Lion Dance goes back to ancient China. Although many have seen the red-headed Lion Dance performed during New Year’s, the Oshio Lion Dance is something completely different. Oshio’s Lion Dance is fierce and thrilling, featuring multiple wild brown and black Hairy Lions.
It’s an action-packed dance where 5-6 ornately costumed Hairy Lions line up like cavalry, and young dancers climb up and do an acrobatic performance on them.
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◆The #1 Must-See! The “Street Dance”!
The most exciting event is the “Street Dance” which takes place on the evening of the 14th. Imagine something like a “Lion Dance Parade”. It takes place on a 100m-long cobblestone street, stretching from the shrine grounds to the interior shrine buildings.
Groups of people, riding on each other’s backs, raise the Lion heads high up and dance and shout to the accompanying sounds of Japanese flutes and drums. It’s a truly magical and fantastical spectacle.
Although your attention will be drawn to the gorgeous Lion Dance, be sure to also pay attention to the Ujiko (shrine parishioners). The cavalry team, faces set in grim determination, is impressively brave and manly.
One after another, the teams replace each other so quickly and smoothly that the onlookers can hardly even notice. Furthermore, the beauty and power of the dancing communicates the true joy and power of community spirit!
◆The Lions Dance simultaneously at each area of the shrine grounds!
When the “street dance” is over, the “ground dance” begins.
One town holds the Lion Dance surrounded by a group of musicians, another performs on a Noh stage, and yet another dances for 20 minutes as an offering to the Gods.
Each town’s dance custom is different from the others. The climax of the event is the entrance of the “Hyottoko” characters wearing their comical masks! Interestingly, it is said that when the different dances are put together, they tell a single story.
Oshio has an organizational system supporting it called the “Fellowship” system. Groups of 4-15 people of the same age form together into groups called “Brother Groups”. In the old days, they would get together and cooperate to help with weddings, funerals, and house moving.
Although not originally created for the festivals, they are still the main organizing structure supporting them.
By the way, the Fellowship has a team leader called the “Captain” (revolving position)
During the festival, they reportedly “return” to the Captain’s house to “eat dinner”.
Amazingly, they sometimes even take their evening baths there! Tough work for the Captain’s family!
When I asked if the 3-day banquet would be too much of a squeeze on the family’s finances…they told me that everyone chips in to lighten the burden!
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【Oshio Fall Festival】
Date：October 14th and 15th
Place：Oshio Tenmangu Shrine（3 minutes walk from Sanyo Railway Oshio Station）
1-50 Shiosaki, Oshio-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture
note
1) There are no trash cans at the place. Please be sure to bring a garbage bag.
2) There are no vending machines either. Please prepare a drink in advance.