“A-ta-ri!” rings out in the snowy village: a traditional formal archery rite offered to Hachiman
Oguni Hachiman Shrine Kyūsha Shinto Ritual
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Februarylast Sunday (once every 3 years) / Once every 3 years
- Location
- Oguni Furusato Fureai Village
- Area
- Yamagata Prefecture・Tsuruoka City(From Tokyo: approx. 2 h 30 min–3 h · 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.
- Features
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Last updated
- 2026/11/13
A ritual passed down in the Atsumi area of Tsuruoka City, in which a formal archery rite is offered to Hachiman.
About Oguni Hachiman Shrine Kyūsha Shinto Ritual
The Oguni Hachiman Shrine Kyūsha is a ceremony centered on a formal archery rite passed down in the Atsumi area of Tsuruoka City.
In Oguni Village, it was held as a New Year’s ritual for Hachiman, and in the past, the arrow bearer went from house to house announcing it.
It is not primarily a practice of kyudo or competitive archery, but a tradition carried on as a rite to honor and console the deity.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the formal archery rite, in which archers wearing hakama bare one shoulder and aim at a target about 27 meters away.
In a documented performance, 4 archers shot arrows in falling snow. When an arrow hit the target, the bearer responsible for judging called out, “A-ta-ri!”
The ritual is notable not only for the archers’ movements, but also for moments when prayers are offered for bountiful harvests and the safety of the household.
“A-ta-ri!” rings out in the snowy village: a traditional formal archery rite offered to Hachiman
What to expect
During the ritual, the arrow bearer wears formal attire and announces the ceremony, while the archers perform formal shots at the target.
In the past, on the morning of the archery ritual, the arrow bearer would visit each household to announce it.
In a documented performance, 4 archers shot at a target about 27 meters away, and the gohei bearer judged whether the arrows had hit.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Oguni Furusato Fureai Village (Tsuruoka City)
Event venue 山形県鶴岡市 小国ふる里ふれあい村
This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.
Dates and season
- Season
Februarylast Sunday (once every 3 years)
- Frequency
Once every 3 years
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 Yamagata Prefecture / Tsuruoka City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
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Photo source ·Origins and History of Oguni Hachiman Shrine Kyūsha Shinto Ritual
The Oguni Hachiman Shrine Kyūsha Shinto Ritual has long been held in Oguni Village as a New Year’s ritual for Hachiman.
It was suspended for a time during wartime, but was revived in Showa 33 through the dedication of local residents and designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Atsumi Town in Showa 61.
It is also listed in Tsuruoka City’s designated cultural properties register as a city-designated intangible folk cultural property.
Official information
Tsuruoka City’s Board of Education designated cultural properties register lists the Oguni Hachiman Shrine Kyūsha Shinto Ritual as a city-designated intangible folk cultural property of the Atsumi area.
The Shonai-area performance schedule lists the Oguni Hachiman Shrine Kyūsha Ritual Preservation Association as the preserving organization.
Oguni Hachiman Shrine Kyūsha Shinto Ritual at a Glance
The Oguni Hachiman Shrine Kyūsha Shinto Ritual is a formal archery rite passed down as a New Year’s ritual for Hachiman.
Records describe archers aiming at a target about 27 meters away, with the cry “A-ta-ri!” ringing out when an arrow hits.
After being suspended during wartime, the ritual was revived in Showa 33 and designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Atsumi Town in Showa 61.
Sources and references
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/13
