The Hyakumangoku Matsuri (百万石まつり) is the main annual festival taking place in
Kanazawa
is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 466,029 in 203,271 households, and a population density of 990 persons per km2. The total area of the city was .
Overview Cityscape
...
,
Japan. The festival commemorates the entry of Lord
Maeda Toshiie
was one of the leading generals of Oda Nobunaga following the Sengoku period of the 16th century extending to the Azuchi–Momoyama period. His preferred weapon was a yari and he was known as "Yari no Mataza" (槍の又左), Matazaemon (又 ...
into
Kanazawa Castle
is a large, partially-restored Japanese castle in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. It is located adjacent to the celebrated Kenroku-en Garden, which once formed the castle's private outer garden. It was the headquarters of Kaga Domain, rul ...
in 1583. The highlight of the festival is the Hyakumangoku Parade, which has begun on the first Saturday in June since 2007.
The Hyakumangoku Parade reenacts the entrance of Lord Maeda Toshiie and his entourage into Kanazawa. The participants are dressed in 16th-century period costumes and parade around several city blocks.
The name ''Hyakumangoku'' refers to
rice
Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and '' Porteresia'', both wild and domesticat ...
production. ''Hyakuman'' means "1,000,000" (literally "100 10,000") and the ''
koku'' is a measurement of rice production. 1,000,000 koku is around 150,000
tonne
The tonne ( or ; symbol: t) is a unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. It is a non-SI unit accepted for use with SI. It is also referred to as a metric ton to distinguish it from the non-metric units of the short ton ( United State ...
s or 5,000,000
bushel
A bushel (abbreviation: bsh. or bu.) is an imperial and US customary unit of volume based upon an earlier measure of dry capacity. The old bushel is equal to 2 kennings (obsolete), 4 pecks, or 8 dry gallons, and was used mostly for agric ...
s of rice.
In the evening after the main parade there are
Bon Festival
or just is fusion of the ancient Japanese belief in ancestral spirits and a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist–Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people retu ...
dances starting from 19.00 h and ending late in the night. Employees from different companies wear different kimono, but anyone can join the dances. The traditional Japanese dance along the central street near Kohrinbo is a picturesque event, and the column of dancing people is several kilometers long.
''
Tourou nagashi'' (灯篭流し) commences the night before the main festival. Lit ''Kaga Yuzen'' lanterns are floated down the river
Asano at dusk, starting near the ''Tenjin-Bashi'' bridge. The lanterns then float under the ''Ume-no-Hashi'' bridge before finishing at the ''Asanogawa Ohashi'' bridge.
Other events during the festival include tea ceremonies staged in
Kenroku-en
Kenroku-en (兼六園, Six Attributes Garden), located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, is an old private garden. Along with Kairaku-en and Kōraku-en, Kenroku-en is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. The grounds are open year-round except ...
, performances of traditional arts and folk dancing, a "Miss Hyakumangoku" beauty contest, and a children's drum and lantern parade.
Picture gallery
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{{coord missing, Ishikawa Prefecture
Festivals in Japan
Tourist attractions in Ishikawa Prefecture