At the traditional Water God Festival of Funabashi Fishing Harbor, four performances are offered in prayer of safety and bountiful fishing

Translated from the original article at: http://funabashi.keizai.biz/headline/photo/179/

April 5, 2012

Continuing since the Edo era, the annual event took place on the 3rd.

Praying for safety at sea and abundant fishing, the Sea God Festival was held on April 3rd, in Funabashi Fishing Harbor (Minamotomachi 3, Funabashi City), organized by the City of Funabashi’s Fishing Union (Chief Director Oono Kazutoshi). The religious event for believers of the water gods has been appointed within Japan as an intangible cultural asset.

The festival has continued since the Edo period, a tradition passed down among Funabashi's fisherman. "It has gone on since the 1600's" explained a member of the fishing union.

Over the fishing ships anchored in the fishing port's wharf, many Tairyo-bata  fluttered in the strong winds. Shinto and Kagura ceremonies were performed onboard the ships. As the events progressed, workers of the Funabashi Daijinja shrine and those involved in the fishing industry presented offerings of Tamagushi, praying for the safety of the fisherman this season. 180 from the fishing union participated.

As the ritual continued, 4 types of Kagura were offered. The Miko, Sarata, Ebisu and Sanjin dances.
In the middle of a pile of Nori, "The catch of winter," sea bass and short necked clam was transferred over, marking a change to "The catch of spring," requesting safe and abundant fishing as part of the Water God Festival.

With the Kagura offerings finished, citizens gathered where red and white Mochi was being distributed. Those involved in the fisherman boarded a ship which sailed out offshore. Throwing the five Chinese cereals into the ocean, this completed the festival.


Original text:
船橋漁港で伝統の「水神祭」－神楽4座を奉納し豊漁と安全祈願
（2012年04月05日）

江戸時代から続いている伝統行事は毎年4月3日に実施

海上の安全や豊漁を祈願する船橋市漁業協同組合（大野一敏理事長）主催による水信仰の神事で市の文化財指定を受けている「水神祭」が4月3日、船橋漁港（船橋市湊町3）で行われた。

同祭は、江戸時代から船橋の漁師に受け継がれてきた伝統行事で、「西暦1600年ごろから続いているのでは」と語る同漁協関係者も。　

たくさんの大漁旗が強風にはためく中、船橋漁港の岸壁に係留した漁船上で神事や神楽が執り行われた。神事を進行したのは船橋大神宮の神職、漁業関係者は玉串の奉納などを行い、今季の漁の安全を祈願した。同漁協の組合員数は約180人。

神事に続いて、みこ舞、猿田舞、蛭子（えびす）舞、山神舞という4座の神楽が奉納される。ノリ中心の「冬の漁」からスズキやアサリなどが中心となる「春の漁」に移行する節目に漁の安全と豊漁を祈って「水神祭」は行われる。

神楽の奉納が終わり、神事に集まった市民らに紅白の餅がまかれると、漁業関係者は沖合まで船を出し五穀を海にまくことで同祭は終了する。