Nakanoiki Tsujikiri

Tsujikiri passed down in Nakanoiki, Funabashi City, is a folk ritual in which large straw snakes made by people from the east and west are wrapped around trees at the village boundary, giving form to prayers to keep evil spirits and epidemics away.

About Nakanoiki Tsujikiri

Nakanoiki Tsujikiri is a folk ritual passed down in Nakanoiki, Funabashi City, and held in the afternoon of Hatsuuma.

By “cutting off” the tsuji (mura boundary), people pray that evil spirits and epidemics will not enter the mura.

Among the tsujikiri rituals passed down in 6 areas of the city, Nakanoiki is known for making large straw snakes and has preserved the old form especially well.

Source: 歴史と伝統を受け継ぐ郷土芸能｜船橋市公式ホームページ

Festival highlights

The highlight is the large snake, about 5 and a half meters long, made by groups from the east and west.

The 2 snakes are wrapped in front of the at Yasaka Jinja, set facing each other, and offered sacred sake.

Afterward, people from the east and west carry the large straw snakes to roadside trees in the southwest and northeast of the settlement and wrap them around the trunks.

Source: 中野木の辻切り | OMATSURI NAVI｜英語対応、日本のお祭り検索サイト「お祭りナビ」

Nakanoiki’s prayers to protect the village boundary, entrusted to a large straw snake

What to expect

First, the 2 groups from the east and west each make a large straw snake at Yasaka Jinja.

The large snakes are set in front of the honden and offered sacred sake. After a communal meal, 4–5 people from each of the east and west carry them.

Finally, the large snakes are wrapped around roadside trees in the southwest and northeast of the settlement, completing the arrangement meant to protect the village boundary.

How to take part

必要人数：大蛇1匹につき東西それぞれ4～5人で運ぶ

Location and access

Venue and address: Yasaka Jinja, 1-12-1 Nakanoiki, Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture
Train and bus: A 13-minute walk from Higashi-Funabashi Station

Address 1-12-1 Nakanoiki, Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture

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Dates and season

Season: Afternoon of Hatsuuma in February

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Chiba Prefecture / Funabashi City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Nearby attractions

Parks and gardensFunabashi City

ふなばしアンデルセン公園

千葉県船橋市にある総合公園

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Photo and data sources

写真：Hotsuregua / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Temples and shrinesFunabashi City

意富比神社

千葉県船橋市にある神社

Visit the official page ↗

Photo and data sources

写真：Daidouji at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Origins and History of Nakanoiki Tsujikiri

Tsujikiri is a ritual in which objects to ward off evil are placed at the entrance or boundary of a mura to prevent evil spirits and epidemics from entering the area.

In Funabashi City, the methods and timing vary by area: some make straw snakes, while others form ropes into loops. The ritual continues in several areas today.

Nakanoiki Tsujikiri preserves the traditional form of large straw snakes and has been designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Funabashi City.

Source: PDF資料

Official information

Funabashi City’s official website introduces the timing and purpose of Nakanoiki Tsujikiri, how it has been passed down, and the features of its straw snakes under “Local Performing Arts Carrying on History and Tradition.”