A tradition of yakko processions lives on in Kaminokuni, with participants marching with raised spears
Ishizaki Yakko
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year in mid-August / Every year
- Location
- Ishizaki and Hayakawa districts
- Area
- Hokkaido・Kaminokuni Town(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 30 min–2 h · flight time only)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.
- Required number of participants
- 16 young people
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Ishizaki Yakko is a traditional event in Kaminokuni Town in which young people dressed as yakko raise long spears and parade through the Ishizaki and Hayakawa districts. The procession also features a performance called “kakeai.”
About Ishizaki Yakko
Ishizaki Yakko is a traditional event passed down in the Ishizaki district of Kaminokuni Town, Hokkaido.
Young people dressed as yakko form a procession carrying long spears and slowly parade through the area.
It was once held as part of the festival at Ishizaki Hachiman Shrine. Today, it is carried on mainly by young people from the town as part of lifelong learning activities in the Hayakawa district.
In Showa 57, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the town.
Source: 石崎奴（いしざきやっこ） | 北海道上ノ国町
Festival highlights
The main highlight is the procession of 16 young people wearing black formal kimono with family crests, white momohiki trousers, and straw sandals, with white cloth wrapped around their waists.
Participants raise spears about 4 meters long and proceed in two lines.
The procession slowly winds through the Hayakawa district, and the “kakeai” performed along the way is considered one of the highlights of Ishizaki Yakko.
The coordinated display of costumes, spears, and formation reflects the distinctive character of this local tradition.
A tradition of yakko processions lives on in Kaminokuni, with participants marching with raised spears
What to expect
At Ishizaki Yakko, young people dressed as yakko form a procession and parade through the area, raising long spears.
The procession proceeds slowly in two lines, performing “kakeai,” a distinctive feature of Ishizaki Yakko, along the way.
Past examples include students from Hayakawa Elementary School, local young people, and people originally from the area who were visiting home joining the procession.
The event is carried on mainly by young people from the town.
Source: かみのくにトピックス【伝統の石崎奴】 | 北海道上ノ国町
How to take part
The procession is mainly made up of young people from the town, and no information is provided on whether general visitors may join it.
Past records mention participation by students from Hayakawa Elementary School, local young people, and people originally from the area who were visiting home.
If you wish to watch, it is best to observe from the sidelines so you do not obstruct the procession.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The procession moves slowly through the Hayakawa district, mainly around the Ishizaki district.
Source: 石崎奴 - ジャパンサーチ
Address Ishizaki district, Aza Ishizaki, Kaminokuni Town, Hiyama District, Hokkaido
Dates and season
Ishizaki Yakko is held around the middle of August each year.
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Origins and History of Ishizaki Yakko
Ishizaki Yakko is said to be an event with a history of about 200 years.
In Bunka 10 (1813), alongside renovations to Ishizaki Hachimangu, a procession of yakko that had appeared at festivals of the Matsumae Domain was recreated; this is described as part of the background to the event becoming established.
It was once held as part of the festival at Ishizaki Hachiman Shrine and is now carried on as a lifelong learning activity in the Hayakawa district.
In Showa 57, it was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Kaminokuni Town.
Official information
The “Ishizaki Yakko (いしざきやっこ)” page on the official Kaminokuni Town website describes the event’s features and history, as well as its status as a town-designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
For inquiries, contact the Education Partnership Section of the Kaminokuni Town Board of Education.
The phone number is 0139-55-2230.
Ishizaki Yakko at a Glance
Ishizaki Yakko is a traditional event with a history of about 200 years, passed down in the Ishizaki district of Kaminokuni Town.
Young people wearing black formal kimono with family crests and straw sandals raise spears about 4 meters long and parade through the area in two lines.
The procession accompanied by “kakeai” and its origins dating back to Bunka 10 (1813) are its defining features.
例年8月中旬に行われます。
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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