An Okazaki agricultural ritual that entrusts hopes for a good harvest to a large kagami mochi and the actions of an ox
Denden Gassari
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- 3rd day of the New Year / Every year
- Location
- Yamanaka Hachimangu Shrine
- Area
- Aichi Prefecture・Okazaki City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 40 min–2 h · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Features
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
An Otaue ritual passed down at Yamanaka Hachimangu Shrine in Okazaki City, said to have originated in the Muromachi period. Songs and gestures depicting farm work, along with a distinctive performance in which an ox carries a large kagami mochi, convey hopes for a good harvest.
About Denden Gassari
Denden Gassari is an Otaue ritual that has long been passed down at Yamanaka Hachimangu Shrine.
The name comes from “Denden,” meaning rice field, and “Deen-deen-gasariya,” the phrase at the beginning of the song lyrics.
Songs sung at the beginning and end, dialogue, and gestures depict the year’s farm work and pray for favorable weather and a good rice harvest.
It is passed down by a preservation society as an Okazaki City-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Source: 市指定：無形民俗文化財 デンデンガッサリ｜岡崎市公式ホームページ
Festival highlights
A highlight is the scene in which small mochi shaped like sickles are used to harvest a large kagami mochi, which represents a good harvest.
The harvested large kagami mochi is placed on the ox’s back and carried to a storehouse; the performance even includes a gesture of the ox collapsing under the weight.
A distinctive feature of this ritual is the ox’s appearance as a symbol of carrying goods and a good harvest.
After the offering, pieces cut from the large kagami mochi are thrown to worshippers.
An Okazaki agricultural ritual that entrusts hopes for a good harvest to a large kagami mochi and the actions of an ox
What to expect
The ritual depicts a year’s farm work through songs sung at the beginning and end, dialogue, and gestures.
The performance includes harvesting a large kagami mochi, which represents a good harvest, with small mochi, then placing it on the ox’s back and carrying it to a storehouse.
A gesture of the ox collapsing because it cannot bear the weight is also part of the performance.
After the offering, mochi are tossed to the worshippers.
How to take part
The involvement of the preservation society, which performs the ritual, and worshippers, who receive mochi during the toss, is confirmed.
During the mochi toss, pieces cut from the large kagami mochi are thrown to worshippers after the offering.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Yamanaka Hachimangu Shrine (Aza Miyashita, Yamanaka-cho, Okazaki City).
- Train and bus
Get off at Meitetsu’s Yamanaka Station; it is about a 15-minute walk.
- Parking
Parking available.
Source: 山中八幡宮｜岡崎の観光スポット｜岡崎おでかけナビ - 岡崎市観光協会公式サイト
Address Aza Miyashita, Yamanaka-cho, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
3rd day of the New Year
- Frequency
Every year
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Aichi Prefecture / Okazaki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
岡崎城
愛知県の城
Origins and History of Denden Gassari
Denden Gassari is said to have originated in the Muromachi period.
Held on the 3rd day of the New Year as Yamanaka Hachimangu Shrine’s Otaue Festival, it is now carried on by the Denden Gassari Preservation Society.
In Showa 47July 5, it was designated an Okazaki City Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Efforts to preserve this long-standing agricultural ritual continue in the local community.
Source: 東海道を舞台にした信仰・祭礼 ～本宿神明社の祇園祭と山中八幡宮のデンデンガッサリ～ - 地域文化資産ポータル
Official information
The Okazaki City official website provides information about Denden Gassari’s origins, performances, cultural property designation, location, and custodians.
The Okazaki City Tourism Association’s official website also provides the address, nearest station, and parking information for the venue, Yamanaka Hachimangu Shrine.
Denden Gassari at a Glance
Denden Gassari is an Otaue ritual passed down at Yamanaka Hachimangu Shrine.
The ritual depicts farm work through songs, dialogue, and gestures, including a scene in which a large kagami mochi is harvested and carried by an ox, and a gesture of the ox collapsing.
After the offering, which is made in prayer for a good harvest, mochi are tossed to the crowd. The ritual is preserved as an Okazaki City-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property and has continued since the Muromachi period.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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