[Ainan Town, the southernmost point of Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku] Why not take a look at the traditional autumn festival in this fishing village?

The autumn festival is about to begin.

On the morning of the festival, we gather at the local shrine. We put on our festival costumes, tie twisted headbands around our heads, and begin our preparations.

The portable shrine and the Ushioni (ox-demon) parade through the village.

What is a portable shrine (mikoshi)?

This refers to the palanquin (vehicle) that the gods ride in when they travel around the community during festivals. Bearers in festival attire carry the palanquin through the area surrounding the shrine. It is said that this is done to absorb and purify misfortune and impurity, and to hear the prayers and wishes of the people for a bountiful harvest.

In Nakaura, a portable shrine made of barrels is paraded through the village.

In the past, a portable shrine was carried, but due to the declining population, there are fewer people to carry it, so instead of a portable shrine, four barrel shrines are paraded through the village. A barrel shrine is a portable shrine made from a sake barrel (decorative barrel) instead of a typical shrine that imitates a shrine building. Sake and Shinto rituals have been deeply intertwined since ancient times, and this is a very unique form of carrying an "auspicious barrel" that is used in celebrations. The procession involves vigorously shaking the shrines or ox-demon figures back and forth and side to side, or visiting door-to-doors (at the entrances of houses that have given gifts of appreciation), praying for the health and safety of the community.

The portable shrine, carried in a barrel, is paraded through the village with a drum troupe riding in a vehicle.

We'll be parading around the fishing village, enjoying the scenery as we go around the beach huts right in front of us, carrying the portable shrine.

What is a Ushioni?

The Ushioni is a popular and indispensable figure at the festival. It is a giant ox-shaped structure with a demonic mask. Each district has a different face, and it is paraded through the town as a way to ward off evil spirits. It sticks its head into each house and shakes it to ward off evil, and the homeowners give it money for flowers in return.

Children ride on top of the Ushioni (ox-demon) while adults carry it. The festival brings together people of all ages, from adults to children.

As the procession moves through the streets, there is the accompaniment of drum music, with children and, if there aren't enough people, adults taking turns playing the drums. This autumn festival has been held for generations, and many locals know how to play the drums, demonstrating the strong sense of community. It's also a day when people who no longer live in the area but were originally from the area return with their families for the festival, making the village more lively and bustling than usual.

The portable shrine was brought into the shrine grounds, and everyone dispersed at lunchtime.

After the procession enters the shrine grounds, a feast of sashimi, appetizers, rice balls, and sake—all specialties of this coastal region—is held at the Nakaura Community Center. Participants of the festival, from young people to the elderly, eat and drink together, socializing and enjoying each other's company. There's also karaoke, which turns into a karaoke competition, and the party continues from early afternoon until evening, creating a lively and exciting atmosphere.

Sashimi made from fish caught by local fishermen specifically for the festival. A privilege only available in the region!

After the banquet at the community center, we had a karaoke competition.

Why not come and experience the autumn festival in Ainan Town, the southernmost town in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, on November 3rd?

This time I introduced the festival in Nakaura, but there are many other settlements within the same town, and the content of the festivals varies from settlement to settlement, such as areas where the portable shrine is placed on a boat, or where five deer and Chinese lion dances are performed, and the number of participants, the duration, and so on. I hope you will visit and experience the local traditional culture that still exists today.

How to get to Ainan Town

The journey to Ainan Town is long.

Since neither the train nor the highway goes all the way, the smoothest way to get to Ainan Town is by rental car.

Because it takes time to get there, you can enjoy the rich natural scenery along the way and take your time on your journey.

If you rent a car, the journey from Matsuyama Airport to Ainan Town takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.