Namari no Momote

Festival highlights

A highlight is watching archers dressed in kamishimo shoot through various targets in the grounds of Sanpō Kōjin-gū.

At the target for the gods, the names of the gods are read aloud in order; at the targets for warding off misfortune, participants shoot at targets for people aged 42, 33, and 61, among others.

When an arrow hits a target, celebratory gifts are thrown in from the yama. Partway through, a dance is also performed by people carrying branches of hackberry decorated with strips of paper bearing written wishes.

Finally, they shoot through a small target marked “Oni” (demon), bringing the archery to a close.

An archery ritual from Namari, entrusting prayers to arrows and carrying on community traditions

What to expect

The day before, the tōya and archers make bamboo targets, and the archers perform shio-kori purification in the sea.

At night, Tōya-gomori is held at the Hondō household. It includes practice shooting at a makiwara target and koshīta, where the forms of archery are taught to yaburaki, who will serve as an archer for the first time.

After decorative arrows are offered on the day, the archery proceeds in this order: the target for the gods, the targets for warding off misfortune, the tōya’s three-round bow shooting, and the oni target. Finally, the tōya handover passes the role to the next year’s tōya.

Location and access

Venue and address

Sanpō Kōjin-gū, Namari District, Takuma-chō, Mitoyo City

Address Namari District, Takuma-chō, Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture

Dates and season

Season

The Sunday closest to day 1 of lunar month 2

Frequency

Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

Origins and History of Namari no Momote

The origins of Momote in Namari are unclear, but records such as the “Kōjin-gū Momote Fukkirirei” from Hōreki 14 (1764) and “Momote Sakuhō no Koto” from An’ei 3 (1774) indicate that it was practiced by the middle of the early modern period.

The festival was formerly held on day 1 of lunar month 2, but it is now held on the Sunday closest to day 1 of lunar month 2.

On March 10, 2014, it was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

Official information

You can find information about the event, where it is passed down, and its cultural property designation in the Kagawa Prefectural Museum’s guide to “Namari no Momote (Mitoyo City)” and the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ database of nationally designated cultural properties.

Namari no Momote at a Glance

Namari no Momote is a traditional event held in the grounds of Sanpō Kōjin-gū, where young archers compete in archery and pray for good harvests, abundant catches, and the safety of the community.

After making the targets, performing shio-kori purification in the sea, and holding Tōya-gomori the previous day, participants shoot at various targets on the day, including targets for the gods, for warding off misfortune, and for the oni.

Records from 1764 and 1774 indicate that it was practiced by the middle of the early modern period. In 2014, it was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.