Sekikawa Taishita Monja Festival

Sun, Aug 25, 09:30 - Sun, Aug 25, 13:00

1252-1 Kamiseki, Sekikawa-mura, Iwafune-gun, Niigata

Free

The Sekikawa Taishita Monja Matsuri is a lively and somewhat curious festival in Niigata Prefecture. It started with a local youth group in Sekikawa village deciding in the 1980s that they wanted to start 'something fun' as a new project to reinvigorate the village. They came up with the idea for a festival based on two themes: the local legend of a huge snake and the tragic flooding of 1967 that had cost 34 locals their lives. They humorously called the festival Taishita Monja Matsuri. 'Taishita mon' in Japanese is a colloquial expression that means something like 'an impressive feat' or 'an awesome guy' and is often used sarcastically. 'Ja' is the Sino-Japanese reading for 'snake'. So, the festival name may perhaps be translated as 'the super awesome snake festival'. The festival itself is a community spectacle where lots of locals get involved. The highlight is a parade where a huge snake made of straw and bamboo is carried around. In a country with venerable traditions and century-old festivals, the Sekikawa festival is a refreshing exception where the organizers don't take themselves too seriously. A great opportunity to meet with locals and have some light-hearted fun off the beaten track.

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Parking Family-friendly Free Admission