The Otaue Matsuri at Sumiyoshi Taisha, one of Japan's oldest and most important shrines founded in the 3rd century, is an important agricultural ritual praying for a bountiful rice harvest. On June 14, white-clad shrine maidens (saotome) plant rice seedlings in the shrine's sacred rice paddy to the accompaniment of ancient court music (gagaku) and traditional dance, preserving Nara-period agricultural rites largely unchanged for over a millennium. The ceremony is accompanied by processions, boat races, and spectacular theatrical performances including dengaku and bugaku dance. The event is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Summer
- Month
- June 14
- Region
- Kansai
- Prefecture
- Osaka
- City
- Osaka
Highlights
- ◆Shrine maidens planting rice in sacred paddy to gagaku music
- ◆Over 1,000-year-old Nara-period agricultural ritual
- ◆Bugaku and dengaku classical dance performances
- ◆Held at one of Japan's oldest and most revered grand shrines
- ◆Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property