A Nohara Hachimangu tradition in which child performers and sacred horses proceed amid calls
Nohara Hachimangu Shinji Setto Event
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- October 15 / Every year
- Location
- Nohara Hachimangu and the district making the dedication that year
- Area
- Kumamoto Prefecture・Arao City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 10 min · 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Required number of participants
- The procession consists of 1 sacred horse, 1 bugyo, 1 setto (child performer), 1 attendant (child performer), 1 leader of the companions, 4 companions, and 1 flag bearer
- Last updated
- 2026/11/12
The Nohara Hachimangu Setto Event is a dedication in which child performers and companions make their way to Nohara Hachimangu with calls ringing out. It has been passed down in the area of the former Nohara-no-sho, which extended across Arao City and part of Nagasu Town, and is dedicated alongside “Furyu” at the Nohara Hachimangu Grand Festival.
About Nohara Hachimangu Shinji Setto Event
The Nohara Hachimangu Shinji Setto Event is a festival procession in which a child rides a horse, companions lead it by the reins, and attendants and others head to Nohara Hachimangu with calls ringing out.
Dedicated alongside “Furyu” at the Nohara Hachimangu Grand Festival, this tradition has been passed down in the former Nohara-no-sho area, mainly in Arao City.
Today, it is practiced in the former Nohara-no-sho area except for Komoya, Nohara, and Kawanobori, extending across Arao City and part of Nagasu Town.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the procession in which a child performer rides a sacred horse, led by companions holding its reins.
Accompanied by the distinctive calls “Heeroi Haroi,” attendants and flag bearers join the procession as it makes its way to Nohara Hachimangu.
The event consists of 1 sacred horse, 1 bugyo, 1 child performer each as setto and attendant, 1 leader of the companions, 4 companions, and 1 flag bearer.
A Nohara Hachimangu tradition in which child performers and sacred horses proceed amid calls
What to expect
In the event, child performers serving as setto and attendants, the bugyo, companions, flag bearers, and others each have their own roles.
At the center of the procession is the child performer serving as setto, riding a sacred horse. Companions lead the horse by its reins, and they proceed in a lively procession to Nohara Hachimangu with the attendants, calling out as they go.
At the Nohara Hachimangu Grand Festival, it is dedicated as a local festival alongside “Furyu.”
How to take part
必要人数：構成上は神馬1頭、奉行1人、節頭（稚児）1人、御供人（稚児）1人、仲間頭1人、仲間4人、旗持ち1人
Location and access
- Venue and address
野原八幡宮、その年に奉納する地区／電車・バス：産交バス・荒尾市営バス 八幡小前下車徒歩4分
Event venue 熊本県荒尾市 野原八幡宮
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
October 15
- 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 Kumamoto Prefecture / Arao City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
荒尾市宮崎兄弟資料館
日本の熊本県荒尾市にある資料館
Origins and History of Nohara Hachimangu Shinji Setto Event
This event is said to have originated in a performing art practiced in Saigo, which became part of the samurai domain following the land division in Nohara-no-sho in Kocho 2 (1262).
From Meiji 18, a system was established under which 3 of the 28 districts in Arao City and Nagasu Town, including Higashigo, make the dedication each year.
The tradition has been passed down in the former Nohara-no-sho area and was designated an intangible folk cultural property by Arao City in Showa 51March 16.
Official information
The preservation group is the Furyu Setto Preservation Association.
The event is recorded as an intangible folk cultural property designated by Arao City. Its main public date is October 15, and the locations are the district making the dedication that year and Nohara Hachimangu.
Nohara Hachimangu Shinji Setto Event at a Glance
The Nohara Hachimangu Shinji Setto Event is a dedication in which a child performer riding a sacred horse, companions, attendants, and others make their way to Nohara Hachimangu to the calls of “Heeroi Haroi.”
Against the backdrop of performing arts passed down in medieval Nohara-no-sho, a system was established in Meiji 18 under which 3 of the 28 districts take turns making the dedication each year.
As an intangible folk cultural property designated by Arao City, it conveys the region’s festival traditions.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/12
