Owake Festival

Festival highlights

A highlight is the “Owake-sama”: a green bamboo stalk about 11 meters long, with sasa leaves, covered in fresh rice straw to form a cone.

The Tōko, Tōshin, and Yoritō representatives sit before it. The 3 elementary schoolchildren serving as Tōko and Tōshin wear white furisode and black obi. The solemn shinji takes place quietly in the darkness.

At the end of the shinji, unglazed pottery cups are thrown backward over the shoulder; it is considered auspicious if they break.

A green-bamboo yorishiro in the darkness, and a farewell shinji passed down through generations

What to expect

The festival begins by setting up the “Owake-sama,” a green bamboo stalk with sasa leaves, covered in fresh rice straw. The Tōko, Tōshin, and Yoritō representatives sit before it.

The shinji is performed quietly in the darkness, and at the end, participants receive sacred sake in an Ōhara-yaki surikobachi mortar.

The ceremony concludes with a ritual in which unglazed pottery cups are thrown backward over the shoulder; it is considered auspicious if they break.

Location and access

Venue and address

Kosaka Hachiman Shrine, 2936 Kosakahigashi, Kamogata-cho, Asakuchi City

Source: 神社 - 浅口市公式ホームページ（産業振興課）

Address 2936 Kosakahigashi, Kamogata-cho, Asakuchi City

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Dates and season

2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)

The 2026 announcement said that the Owake Festival would be open to the public on October 5.

Source: 【浅口市】指定無形民俗文化財「おわけ祭り」公開！献上式と垢離取りを見学｜あなたの街の楽しい情報ツキヌケ

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Origins and History of Owake Festival

The Owake Festival is based on a story that Empress Jingū stopped at Yorishima on her way back from her campaign against the Three Korean Kingdoms and held a farewell ceremony for 3 soldiers who had accompanied her from the village of Kosaka and distinguished themselves.

It is considered an old folk observance rooted in the belief that green bamboo serves as a yorishiro, a vessel through which the gods descend.

Although somewhat simplified, it is solemnly held every year and passed down with the support of local residents.

Official information

Takahashi River Basin League, “Kosaka Hachiman Shrine’s Owake Festival”

Owake Festival at a Glance

The Owake Festival is a shinji passed down at Kosaka Hachiman Shrine in Kosakahigashi, Kamogata-cho, Asakuchi City. It is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Asakuchi City.

Late at night on October 5, the Tōko, Tōshin, and Yoritō representatives sit before the “Owake-sama,” made from green bamboo and fresh rice straw, and perform a shinji.

At the end, participants receive sacred sake, then perform a ritual using a surikobachi mortar, throwing unglazed pottery cups backward over their shoulders.