A local performing art of Sekibe, passed down through fans and taiko as a prayer to the sun
Sekibe no Sanjimosa Odori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Some guides say it is held on the first Sunday of July each year; it is also said to take place on a holiday around the first day of the sixth lunar month. / Every year
- Area
- Fukushima Prefecture・Shirakawa City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 20 min–1 h 40 min · bullet train)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.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
This is a Tendo Nembutsu dance passed down through the people of Sekibe, centered on fans painted with the sun and powerful drums. The circle dance around the shelf, the chant that pulls it free, and the drumming by 2 drummers express wishes for a good harvest.
About Sekibe no Sanjimosa Odori
Sekibe no Sanjimosa Odori is a folk performing art locally also known as “Tendo Nenbutsu.”
Holding fans depicting the sun, participants dance to taiko and singing, praying for the blessings of heaven and a bountiful harvest.
Passed down at Hachiman Shrine in Sekibe, it comprises “Sanjimosa Odori,” “Sanjimosa Ondo,” taiko performances, and the hoisting of people involved in the event, among other elements.
This event brings together local beliefs and performing arts.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the circle dance around the “otana” set up in the center.
The dancers open fans depicting the sun and move clockwise while singing, using a rapid series of taiko beats as their cue.
In the ondo that follows, the dancers shake the shelf and pull it out on the third round.
At the end, 2 taiko drummers face each other and perform a fast-paced drumming display at close range.
A local performing art of Sekibe, passed down through fans and taiko as a prayer to the sun
What to expect
The event begins with preparations to build an “otana” at the center of the dancing area.
The shelf is supported by Mizunara oak posts, decorated with kumazasa bamboo grass and , and used to hold offerings.
Dancers form a circle holding fans. During the ondo, they shake the shelf and pull it out at the end.
The event then proceeds to taiko drumming, 3 rounds of hand clapping, and the hoisting of people involved in the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
The grounds of Hachiman Shrine in the Sekibe district (Sekibe, Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture).
- Train and bus
From Shin-Shirakawa Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, take the JR bus bound for Tanagura, get off at “Koseki,” and walk about 5 minutes.
- By car
About 25 minutes by car from the Shirakawa-Chuo IC (ETC only) on the Tohoku Expressway.
Source: 文化伝統検索 | うつくしま電子事典 / 白河天道念仏さんじもさ踊り【アソビュー！】
Event venue 福島県白河市 関辺地区の八幡神社
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
Some guides say it is held on the first Sunday of July each year; it is also said to take place on a holiday around the first day of the sixth lunar month.
- 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 Fukushima Prefecture / Shirakawa City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
Origins and History of Sekibe no Sanjimosa Odori
Sekibe no Sanjimosa Odori is said to be rooted in Tendo Nenbutsu and nenbutsu dances performed in the territory of the Shirakawa Domain during the Edo period.
The current lyrics are said to have been replaced during the Meiji Restoration, and the “Sanjimosa Ondo” is believed to have originally been a nenbutsu dance.
While Tendo Nenbutsu dances once held in many places declined from the Meiji period onward, the tradition has continued in Sekibe as a performing art.
Official information
A cultural heritage description is available in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties, etc.
The preservation group is the Shirakawa Tendo Nenbutsu Sanjimosa Odori Preservation Society.
It is also featured on Shirakawa City’s official website as a folk event involving Tendo Nenbutsu and taiko performance.
Source: 白河の歴史まちづくり | 白河市公式ホームページ
Sekibe no Sanjimosa Odori at a Glance
Sekibe no Sanjimosa Odori is a folk performing art from Sekibe, Shirakawa City, expressing prayers to the sun and hopes for a good harvest through fan dancing, song, and taiko.
The circle dance around the otana, the ondo in which the shelf is shaken and pulled out, and the performance by 2 taiko drummers form a sequence of events.
The event suggests a tradition dating back to before the Edo period and has been carefully passed down in the community.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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