Suginohara no Ota-mai

Festival highlights

Highlights include the procession to Kawazu Myōjin and the offering of “Haru-kuwa,” in which performers swing hoes to the beat of the taiko.

At Amida-do Hall, “Hadaka-nae-oshi,” in which participants stomp vigorously around a brazier, is followed by the appearance of the father-in-law, the son-in-law, the harvester, and others.

Scenes from rice cultivation unfold one after another, including shihōkuwa (four-direction plowing), calling the ox, sowing seeds, rice planting, harvesting, and hulling rice.

A prayer for an abundant harvest in Suginohara, depicting the four seasons of rice cultivation through song and dance

What to expect

During the event, the performers form a procession led by a representative of the district, followed in order by the taiko player, the father-in-law, the son-in-law, the harvester, the ox, the rice-planting children, and others.

After paying respects at Kawazu Myōjin and offering Haru-kuwa, the participants proceed to Amida-do Hall, where they perform Hadaka-nae-oshi and Ota-mai.

In Ota-mai, performers act out plowing the fields, sowing seeds, planting rice, and harvesting, accompanied by exchanges of dialogue and songs.

Location and access

Address

Aridagawa Town

Host municipality 和歌山県有田川町

This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.

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Dates and season

Season

February Lunar New Year

Frequency

Every other year

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Origins and History of Suginohara no Ota-mai

Suginohara no Ota-mai is a ta-asobi performance said to have been passed down since the Muromachi period.

It preserves a kyogen-like style of performance centered on roles for a father-in-law and son-in-law, once widely found in the foothills along the Arida River, which rises on Mount Koya.

Records state that Amida Hall was built in the early 16th century. In the past, the event was also accompanied by Doto-shiki, a village-entry ceremony for three-year-old children.

Source: 第5回 杉野原の御田舞（おんだのまい） 〜舅（しゅうと）と聟（むこ）〜 - LIVING和歌山 / 国指定文化財等データベース

Official information

You can check the designation details and description of Suginohara no Ota-mai in the Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties and Other Items (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The event location and venue are also listed in the Wakayama Prefectural Board of Education’s Intangible Folk Cultural Properties Calendar.

Source: 和歌山県無形民俗文化財カレンダー | 和歌山県教育委員会

Suginohara no Ota-mai at a Glance

Suginohara no Ota-mai is a traditional performing art that depicts the year in rice cultivation through songs, dances, and actors’ movements, praying for the community’s peace and a bountiful harvest.

A procession to Kawazu Myojin, Harukuwa, Hadaka-nae-oshi at Amida Hall, and performances such as rice planting and hulling form a sequence of events.

開催は例年2月の旧正月で、隔年とされています。