The cold air illuminated by a bright red flame. Sagicho ritual in the town of Oiso/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1201150001/

January 15, 2012

Bright flames rising in the town of Oiso

On the night of the 14th, a grand Sagicho burning event took place on Kitahama beach in the town of Oiso. Followed since the Edo period, the Sagicho event has been appointed by the country as a folk cultural asset of immeasurable importance.

Townspeople gathered such things as rope decorations used at New Year's and Daruma, tying them to the 10 foot sagichos. At once, all nine sagichos were lit on fire at the front and back with conical shaped "Saito" (ceremonial torches). As the bright red flames rose, the chilly winter air illuminated.

Townspeople and tourists visit the sandy beaches to see the fire festivals of Little New Year. Using the flames of the Saito torches, they cook Dango and Mochi, stuffing their faces in request for a healthy and safe year ahead.

(Note: Little New Year is an additional Japanese holiday period, taking place primarily on the 15th and the days surrounding it.)

Original text:

寒空照らす炎赤々と、大磯町で「左義長」/神奈川

2012年1月15日

赤々と燃え上がった炎＝大磯町

江戸時代から伝わり、国の重要無形民俗文化財に指定されている、大磯町の「左義長（さぎちょう）」が14日夜、同町の北浜海岸で盛大に行われた。

町民が持ち寄った正月のしめ飾りやだるまなどを結わえ付けた、高さ10メートル前後の円すい形の斎灯（さいと）９基に一斉に火が入れられると、赤々と燃え上がった炎が寒空を照らし出した。

小正月の火祭り行事を見に砂浜を訪れた町民や観光客は、斎灯の火で団子や餠を焼き、一年の無病息災を願って頬張っていた。

Mountain Gods and tengu hand out good luck charms at a Kamakura ocean side kagura event/Kanagawa

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1301120002/

January 12, 2013

 

Praying for a year of bountiful fishing at an ocean side kagura event=Zaimokuza Beach, Kamakura

On the 11^th, at Kamakura City’s Zaimokuza Beach, an ocean side kagura was offered in prayer towards an excellent year of fishing.

In order to send out the positive energy of the sea and mountains, Shinto priests fired bows and arrows in four directions from an extended bai sema altar, cleansing evil from the area. Red masked tengu and a type of black masked Mountain God known at the Modoki danced around the area, while giving out oranges wrapped with good luck charms to spectators.

During the mid-Edo period, fishermen suffering from poor catches performed a kagura for the Sea Gods. Remnants of that tradition continue today as a New Year’s tradition, which is also performed to protect the local fishermen. The ceremony takes place near Gosho Temple. (Japanese site)

After the kagura, New Year's decorations were thrown onto a sagicho and burned, concluding the event.

Original text:

てんぐと山の神が縁起物まく、鎌倉で潮神楽／神奈川

2013年1月12日

一年の豊漁を祈願して行われた「潮神楽」＝鎌倉・材木座海岸

鎌倉市の材木座海岸で１１日、新年の豊漁を願う「潮神楽」が奉納された。

結界を張った祭壇に山海の幸が供えられ、神職が四方に邪気をはらう弓矢を放った。赤い面のてんぐ役と黒い面の山の神「毛止幾（もどき）」役が周囲を舞いながら、観衆に縁起物のミカンをまいた。

江戸時代中期、不漁にあえいだ漁師が海神に神楽をささげた伝承が残る。近くの五所神社が、新年の伝統行事として続けている。地元の漁師も見守った。

左義長で役目を終えた正月飾りを燃やし、締めくくられた。

Onbe Burning at the beach of Yokosuka- A traditional event to pray for health and safety

Translated from the original article at: http://yokosuka.keizai.biz/headline/708/


January 07, 2012

Caption: Onbe Burnings, to be conducted on each part of East Yokosuka beach in the early morning.

To pray for the safety of one's family and self in the new year, the traditional Onbe burning event will be conducted on January 8th, taking place on Kuri Beach and Nobi shore of the East Yokosuka coastal area.

Bamboo is bundled into an 8 meter high tower, and decorated for the year with pine branches and Shimenawa. The first calligraphy of the year is written upon an object washed ashore, which is burned in the fire festival. A tower of bamboo is then lit on fire. As the flames continue growing, the sound of the bamboo crackling and bursting also strengthens. At the beach of the early morning, the flaming tower rises.

"Sending back the Gods of the New Year" is considered the meaning of the festival. The Onbe burning is also called different names depending on the region (Dondo burning and Sagichou). The "Cooking upwards" fire has mochi (cakes of pulvarized rice) being cooked and eaten. Legend tells that the festival will prevent one from catching a cold for one year's time, and the burning of the first year's calligraphy will improve one's own calligraphy skills.

In addition to Nobi shore, the festivals will take place in Shimo, East Nobi and Nakamura. Each year on these days, at around 6 at the morning, large groups of people gather and arrange for food to be catered. The Kuri beach fire will take place at about 10:00AM from Nagase. Two spots at the front of Perry Park will conduct Onbe burnings.

The events at Kumano temple of Nagasawa Beach and Nagaoka City for the 15th are still being scheduled. Check the website to confirm details.


Original text:
 横須賀の海辺で「おんべ焼き」－無病息災願う伝統行事
2012年01月07日

 横須賀の東海岸各地で、早朝に行われる「おんべ焼き」

新しい年の家内安全と無病息災を祈る伝統行事「おんべ焼き」が1月8日、横須賀東海岸の久里浜・野比海岸などで行われる。

竹を組んだ高さ約8メートルのやぐらに、その年に飾った門松やしめ縄、書き初めで書いた物などを持ち寄って焼く火祭り。竹のやぐらに「火入れ」されると竹のはぜる音とともに勢いよく燃え上がり、早朝の海辺に火柱が立ち昇る。

「年神様を送り返す」意味があるとされ、地域によっては「どんど焼き」「左義長（さぎちょう）」ともいわれる。「おたき上げ」の火で餅を焼いて食べると、一年間風邪をひかないとの言い伝えもあり、書初めを燃やすと書道が上達するとも伝えられる。

 野比海岸では志も・野比東・中村の3カ所で行われ、毎年日の出前の6時頃から大勢の人が集まる。久里浜海岸では10時頃から長瀬、ペリー公園前の2カ所で行われる。

15日には長沢海岸の熊野神社、長岡でも「おんべ焼き」が行われる予定。詳細はサイトで確認できる。