The Ofune – Matsuri Festival

 

The Ofune – Matsuri Festival represents Autumn in Azumino .

子供船

Why is there a Ship  shaped float in a festival held in the

middle of Japan , far from the sea ?

 

It marks the passing of  “Azumi no Muraji Hirafu no mikoto “,

who died on the 27 th of September over a thousand years ago.

It is believed that he led a group of settlers who arrived on

ships from Kyushu.

These settlers founded Azumino , and it is from him the region

takes its name .

 

 安曇野比羅夫 

 

The float  will be paraded through the town , to its

final destination – Hotaka shrine .

 

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There male and female ships will ram the heads of their ships

against each other to symbolize and wish for fertility for the

descendants of the settlers.

 

 

September 16, 2015 Events

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