Amami-Oshima, Sep 11, 2024 (NHK) - On the southwestern Japanese island of Amami-Oshima, people have offered prayers for a bumper crop in a traditional ritual dating back more than 450 years.
The event, called "Hirase-mankai," is designated as a national important intangible folk cultural property.
People gathered at a beach in Tatsugo Town at high tide on Monday evening for the annual event. Five women dressed in white and acting as priestesses stood on a rock by the seaside, while a group of seven men and women who played supporting roles stood on a nearby rock.
The two groups sang to each other to the beat of drums and used hand gestures called "mankai" to invite the gods of the sea.
As the pace of the drum beat and the singing quickened, the five women sat on their heels facing the sea and prayed for a bountiful crop and prosperity for the local community.
To wrap up the event, local people danced together in a circle on the beach with a large number of spectators looking on.
A woman from nearby Amami City said she was impressed by the performance. She noted that the rain that was falling at the start weakened during the event and she felt there was something mythical about it.
The head of an association working to conserve the "Hirase-mankai" ritual, Kubota Keiki, said he was very happy to see a huge crowd turn up to watch such a modest event in a small community.
He noted that young people are joining the association and expressed hope that the tradition will continue with future generations.
