Obata no Otameshi

Obata no Otameshi is a from the Obata area that divines the prospects for the coming year’s harvest from the condition of azuki-bean rice and water in a jar buried in the ground.

About Obata no Otameshi

Obata no Otameshi is a shinji passed down since ancient times in the Obata area of Shinshiro City, where it is locally known as “Otameshi.”

It takes place each year before dawn on the first Day of the Monkey in lunar calendar: November, when the prospects for the harvest are divined in the mountains where the deity of the mountain and Atago Shrine are enshrined.

It is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Shinshiro City, and the custom of prohibiting women from entering the sacred area for the annual divination is observed.

Festival highlights

The highlight is the annual divination: a jar buried in the ground the previous year is unearthed, and the condition of the azuki-bean rice inside is examined in detail.

The quality of the harvest—good, average, or poor—is divined by how well the shapes of the rice and azuki beans have held, while the amount indicates whether the harvest will be plentiful or scant.

Another distinctive feature is that the water level in the jar is used to divine the risk of flooding or drought, while foreign matter in the jar is taken to indicate unusual events.

An ancient Obata shinji that divines the year’s harvest prospects from a jar buried in the ground

What to expect

The shinji begins when the representative leaves Karatsuchi Shrine and enters the mountains where the deity of the mountain and Atago Shrine are enshrined.

An altar is set up in front of both shrines, and after , sacred sake, and azuki-bean rice are offered, the jar buried the previous year is unearthed and its contents examined.

After the divination, fresh azuki-bean rice is put into the jar, which is then buried again to conclude the shinji.

Location and access

Venue and address: Near Enmeiji Temple, Oiri, Obata, Shinshiro City (up the mountain path to the right when facing the )

Address Oiri, Obata, Shinshiro City

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Dates and season

Season: Each year, before dawn on the first Day of the Monkey in lunar calendar: November
Frequency: Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

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Tips for your visit

The custom of prohibiting women from entering the sacred area for the annual divination is observed.

Since the path leading into the mountain grounds is identified as the venue, it is important to visit with respect for the customs of this sacred area.

Nearby attractions

Castles and historic sitesShinshiro City

長篠城

愛知県新城市にあった城

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Photo and data sources

写真：First version: Aboshi at Japanese Wikipedia Second version: Mocchy at Japanese Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Facility data source

Origins and History of Obata no Otameshi

Obata no Otameshi is a shinji that has been passed down in the Obata area since ancient times.

Records do not give the year the festival began or detailed information about its origins, but it became an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Shinshiro City in Showa 33 April 1.

The tradition continues of divining the year’s harvest prospects on the first Day of the Monkey in lunar calendar: November and then placing the jar back in the ground.

Official information

Shinshiro City Official Website, “Obata no Otameshi (Obata’s Divination): Shinshiro City”