Matsuri BiyoriCalendar of Japan's UNESCO-listed festivals

A shared illustration for this type of festival, not this festival itself. Photos are welcome.

Furyu-odori
Calculated

Omi no Kenketo Matsuri Naginata Furi

Japanese name: 近江のケンケト祭り長刀振り（おうみのけんけとまつりなぎなたふり）

Moriyama, Koka, Higashiomi and Ryuo, Shiga

2027

  • Mon, May 3

    Taki Shrine (Tsuchiyama, Koka) and Suginoki Shrine (Ryuo)

  • Wed, May 5

    Ozu Shrine and Shimoshinkawa Shrine (Moriyama)

Check with the organizers or local government
ABOUT

About the festival

This is the collective name for festival performances held at the spring festivals of six shrines in Moriyama, Koka, Higashiomi and Ryuo. Boys dance while sounding gongs and kakko drums, and their naginata-swinging performance clears the way for the mikoshi procession. The name "Kenketo" is thought to come from the spoken imitation of the sound of the gongs the children strike.

  • Older boys spinning their naginata overhead, leaping over them and tossing them in the air

  • Costumes such as crowns of copper-pheasant feathers and waist ornaments with bells

  • The hana-ubai flower-snatching at Tsuchiyama and the heron hoko at Yamanoue, Ryuo

VIDEO

Videos

Videos published by local governments, preservation societies and others.

Video: 近江のケンケト祭り長刀振り連合保存会 (YouTube)

DETAILS

Key facts

Category
UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: Furyu-odori dances
Location
Moriyama, Koka, Higashiomi and Ryuo, Shiga
Main venue
Six shrines, including Taki Shrine, Ozu Shrine and Suginoki Shrine

Sources

This description was written by Matsuri Biyori based on public information. Dates and details may change. Please check the organizers' latest information before you go. Translated from the Japanese original.

FAQ

FAQ

When is Omi no Kenketo Matsuri Naginata Furi held in 2027?
In 2027, it is scheduled for Mon, May 3 – Wed, May 5 (Calculated from the usual rule).
Where is Omi no Kenketo Matsuri Naginata Furi held?
It is held in Moriyama, Koka, Higashiomi and Ryuo, Shiga. The main venue is Six shrines, including Taki Shrine, Ozu Shrine and Suginoki Shrine.
How are the dates of Omi no Kenketo Matsuri Naginata Furi set?
Spring festivals of each shrine from April to early May (May 3 at Taki Shrine and Suginoki Shrine, May 5 at Ozu Shrine and Shimoshinkawa Shrine, etc.)