The Warei Taisai, centred on Warei Shrine in Uwajima, is a three-day summer extravaganza held each late July that draws visitors from across Shikoku. The festival is famous for the Ushioni, a fearsome bull-headed serpent deity whose enormous effigy—carried on poles by dozens of men—parades through the city streets chasing away evil spirits. Traditional bullfighting (tōgyū), a unique cultural practice of the region, takes place in the days surrounding the festival, pitting bulls against each other in a test of strength. The combination of ancient Shinto ritual, folkloric monsters, and communal revelry makes this one of Japan's most distinctive summer events.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Summer
- Month
- Late July
- Region
- Shikoku
- Prefecture
- Ehime
- City
- Uwajima
Highlights
- ◆Ushioni bull-headed serpent deity parade
- ◆Traditional tōgyū bull sumo bouts
- ◆Centred on the historic Warei Shrine
- ◆Three-day community-wide celebrations
- ◆One of Shikoku's most distinctive summer festivals