{{nihongo, ''Sakai Matsuri'', 堺まつり} or Sakai Festival, is one of the three largest annual events in

Sakai City is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the medieval era. Sakai is known for its keyhole-shaped burial mounds, or kofun, which date from the fifth century and in ...

, along with the

Sakai Citizen’s Olympics is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the medieval era. Sakai is known for its keyhole-shaped burial mounds, or kofun, which date from the fifth century and in ...

, and the

Sakai City Agricultural Festival is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the medieval era. Sakai is known for its keyhole-shaped burial mounds, or kofun, which date from the fifth century and in ...

. The Sakai Matsuri has been held annually on the third weekend in October, every year since 1974, along the Oshoji Symbol Road, in Sakai-ku. The Sakai Matsuri is mainly organised by the Sakai Tourism and Convention Bureau.

History

The first Sakai Matsuri was held in 1974 as an alternative event to the

Sakai Grand Evening Fish Market is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the medieval era. Sakai is known for its keyhole-shaped burial mounds, or kofun, which date from the fifth century and in ...

, and has been held every year since.

Outline

The festival's main events are the Pre-parade Party, Grand Parade, Grand Tea Ceremony, and Namban Markets, and are held in the Civic Square in front of the Sakai City Office and the area around the Sakai Ginza Shopping Arcade.

Pre-Parade Party

A Pre-Parade opening event is held on the Saturday before the parade in the Sakai Civic Hall. The Pre-parade Party features local performers, entertainers and manzai comedians, as well as a Futon-daiko performance outside.

Namban Markets

Held in

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, the Namban Markets recreate the culture of Sakai's prosperous merchants in the Middle Ages. The markets feature local products for sale, including Sakai knives,

wagashi are traditional Japanese confections that are often served with green tea, especially the types made of ''mochi'', ''anko'' ( azuki bean paste), and fruit. ''Wagashi'' are typically made from plant-based ingredients. History In Japan, the wo ...

, incense, kombu, and textiles, as well as booths offering world foods and various promotional stands and stage events. Stage performances include music concerts, dances and marching band performances by locals.

Grand Parade

Starting at 11:00am on Sunday, in front of Kumano Elementary School, and held along the 1 km stretch of Oshoji St until Ichi Elementary School, the 7000-strong Grand Parade transforms the street into a pedestrian paradise with folk costumes from around the world, folk dances, bicycle/unicycle performances, matchlock gun salutes, and all kinds of groups and performers, closing at around 5:00pm with 10 Futondaiko.

Grand Tea Ceremony

Held simultaneously in Daisen Park and at Nanshu-ji Temple.

Daisen Park Ceremony

An Open-air tea ceremony hosted by university and kindergarten students, together with the sencha association. There are also

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and

shakuhachi A is a Japanese and ancient Chinese longitudinal, end-blown flute that is made of bamboo. The bamboo end-blown flute now known as the was developed in Japan in the 16th century and is called the .

performances as well as Japanese confectionery for sale.

Nanshu-ji Temple Ceremony

Seated and Open-air tea ceremonies of the San-senke styles (three schools of tea ceremony that descend from Sen-no-Rikyu’s style.

External links

Sakai Tourism & Convention BureauSakai City Website
Festivals in Japan