Kadodaira Mushioshiri

Festival highlights

A highlight is the distinctive way of entrusting misfortune to the okuri-dake bamboo poles and carrying them along the mountain village roads.

Chants such as “Yoi, we send off all manner of insects” are joined by the music of drums and gongs.

The chants are not necessarily the same each time; the words may change from one occasion to another, offering a sense of the event’s deep roots in the community.

A summer event in Minano, sending misfortune from the mountain village away with okuri-dake bamboo poles and the sound of drums

What to expect

During the event, villagers use the okuri-dake bamboo poles of the Kadodaira district to gather misfortune and insects from the village and send them out beyond its boundaries.

The basic course of the event is to move along the mountain village roads while beating drums and gongs and joining in distinctive chants.

Visitors may sometimes have the opportunity to send off the mushi together with local people, but participation must follow the guidance given at the time and the decisions made locally.

How to take part

Visitors may have the opportunity to send off the mushi together with local people.

However, members of the general public may not always be able to join the procession, so please follow local guidance on the day regarding whether and how you may participate.

Even if you are mainly visiting to watch, please take care not to disrupt the event.

Location and access

Venue

Kadodaira district

Address

Kamihin nozawa, Minano, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture

Address Kamihin nozawa, Minano, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture

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Dates and season

It is held annually on August 16, and the Monpei Mushiokuri is listed as running from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Tatezawa Mushiokuri is also held on the same day, but the Monpei Mushiokuri is a separate event held in the Monpei area of Kamihinokusa.

The schedule on the day may change due to weather or local circumstances.

Source: イベント・歳時記 アーカイブ - 皆野町観光協会

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Tips for your visit

The event takes place in the Kadodaira district of Kamihin nozawa, Minano, and moves through the mountain village.

Please watch from a place that does not obstruct passage or interfere with the procession and its chants.

If travelling by public transport, check the town bus schedule and return services in advance, and follow local guidance for a worry-free visit.

Origins and History of Kadodaira Mushioshiri

The Kadodaira Mushioshiri carries on a ritual to ward off misfortune once held in the Hinozawa district.

Today, it survives in two districts, Tatsuzawa and Kadodaira, and continues as a ritual to drive away insects that damage crops.

In this communal prayer, insects are seen as symbols of crop pests and disease and are sent out of the village—a tradition that continues in the event today.

Official information

Information on the event dates and how to reach the venue is provided in the Minano Tourism Association’s event and seasonal calendar listings.

The Kadodaira Mushioshiri is also featured in municipal tourism information introducing Minano’s culture.

Kadodaira Mushioshiri at a Glance

The Kadodaira Mushioshiri is a communal prayer held in the Kadodaira district of Kamihin nozawa, Minano, to send misfortune and crop pests out of the village.

Held on August 16, it features okuri-dake bamboo poles, chants, and music played on drums and gongs.

This event, connected to local beliefs and everyday life, is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the prefecture.