Lifestyles and Traditions - Festivals
Held on first Sunday of April, even-numbered years, at Oyama Shrine (Fuse area, Okinoshima Town)
This festival is also another Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the prefecture. On the day before the festival, after performing Obitachi, the cutting of the vines from the forest, a ritual purification of the area by parading a 4m high sakaki tree through the district, Ōsakaki-makuri, is carried out. On the day of the festival, after gathering at the shrine for a celebration in the morning, the ritual Obi-shime, wrapping of the vines on the sacred tree, is carried out. The festival is rooted in Fuse area where forestry thrived and these shinto rituals are part of the event that announces the beginning of the mountain season and to pray for the safety of forestry work.
