A New Year’s Day ritual of throwing agoishi stones toward the sea to pray for a big catch
The Agoishi Ritual at Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every New Year’s Day / Every year
- Location
- Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine
- Area
- Shimane Prefecture・Ama Town(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 20 min–1 h 40 min · flight time only)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
- 2026/11/11
During the New Year’s Day Sa tansai, the Agoishi Ritual at Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine places an “agoishi” beneath the and throws the previous year’s stone toward the sea to pray for abundant harvests and good catches.
About The Agoishi Ritual at Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine
The Agoishi Ritual at Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine is a local ritual held as part of the Sa tansai New Year’s Festival.
An oval pebble called an “agoishi,” representing a flying fish (ago), is placed beneath the honden, and the stone from the previous year is taken out and thrown toward the sea.
The ritual is performed to pray for abundant harvests and good catches, and is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the town.
Festival highlights
A highlight is the moment when the “agoishi” placed beneath the honden the previous year is taken out.
The stones are thrown one by one toward the sea.
At that point, people call out, “Big catch (dairyo), big catch, big catch.”
The ritual is distinctive for representing a flying fish with a small stone and for the gesture directed toward the sea.
A New Year’s Day ritual of throwing agoishi stones toward the sea to pray for a big catch
What to expect
In the ritual, an oval pebble representing a flying fish is treated as an “agoishi.”
During the Sa tansai, a new stone is placed beneath the honden, and the stone from the previous year is taken out.
The stones are thrown one by one toward the sea, accompanied by repeated calls of “Big catch!”
Location and access
- Venue and address
Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine / Utsuka, Ama Town
Address Utsuka, Ama Town, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture
Dates and season
- Season
Every New Year’s Day
- Frequency
Every year
Accommodation and hotels PR
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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 Shimane Prefecture / Ama Town (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
海士町後鳥羽院資料館
島根県隠岐郡海士町にある郷土資料館
Origins and History of The Agoishi Ritual at Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine
The Agoishi Ritual at Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine is listed as a Folk Cultural Property in Shimane Prefecture’s list of Ama Town’s designated cultural properties.
The designation date is Heisei 22 April 26.
No specific, verifiable explanation of the ritual’s origins, how it came about, or how it has changed over time is available.
Official information
The Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark introduces the Agoishi Ritual at Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine as a festival of the Oki Islands.
Shimane Prefecture lists the ritual as a Folk Cultural Property in Ama Town’s designated cultural properties list.
The Agoishi Ritual at Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine at a Glance
The Agoishi Ritual at Utsuka-no-mikoto Shrine is held every New Year’s Day during the Sa tansai.
An “agoishi” representing a flying fish is placed beneath the honden. The stone from the previous year is thrown toward the sea while people call out “Big catch!” as they pray for abundant harvests and good catches.
It is designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Ama Town.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/11/11
