Sagicho Festival

Sagicho Festival a fire festival observed at Himure Hachimangu Shrine on a weekend in mid-March. On Saturday afternoon, more than a dozen floats leave the shrine to parade the streets, accompanied by young men dressed in the same lively coat and make-up. On Sunday morning, too, they parade through each town. The two-day festival reaches its climax when they set fire to the floats around 8 pm in the temple precincts. Designated an Intangible Folk-Cultural Property by the national government. A fire festival observed at Himure Hachimangu Shrine on a weekend in mid-March. On Saturday afternoon, more than a dozen floats leave the shrine to parade the streets, accompanied by young men dressed in the same lively coat and make-up. On Sunday morning, too, they parade through each town. The two-day festival reaches its climax when they set fire to the floats around 8 pm in the temple precincts. Designated an Intangible Folk-Cultural Property by the national government.
The Sagicho Festival is an unrivaled celebration that was even inscribed in the Official Chronicles of Nobunaga, which states that Oda Nobunaga, a famous warlord who made his mark on the world around four hundred years ago, actively organized this festival at the site of Azuchi Castle and performed a dance while wearing make-up. Thirteen Sagicho floats are carried by young men dressed up as women and paraded around town. In the evening of the next day, fire is set to these Sagicho floats and the sight of them burning furiously is one that should not be missed.

Background History
The Sagicho Festival was apparently held for the first time in the 16th Century by newcomers to this district who had been so astounded by a local festival featuring huge pine torches taking place in April in this shrine that they decided to organize an even more impressive festival. This explains why it is held at this time of the year (mid-March) instead of the New Year, for the Sagicho Matsuri originally signified a New Year fire festival.

Around noon, some 10 Sagicho floats gather at Himure Hachimangu Shrine and a poll is taken to determine the best. Then the floats parade through the town to the accompaniment of shouts of 'Cho yare, yare yare!' The people carrying mikoshi (portable shrines) are called odoriko and even the men are beautifully made up. Historically, the warlord of the Warring States Period, Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) wore make-up and danced when he organized the Sagicho festival in a grandiose manner in the New Year.

The next day, the Sagicho floats parade until late afternoon when they assemble once again at the shrine for the highlight of this festival.