Ta-asobi Rice-Field Play Ritual

A New Year's event to ensure the year's rich harvest, where you can see a performance imitating various rice planting activities

Rice-Field Play Ritual, called "ta-asobi shinji" (literally: ritual of rice field play), is a performing art enacted prior to planting, to ensure and celebrate (in advance) the year's bumper rice crop. Locals deliver the performance within the precinct of the shrine, mimicking agricultural activities throughout the year, from field plowing in spring to the fall harvest. Shinto rites are also conducted within the precinct, by the local representative, who is called "miyamori" (guard of the shrine). Records of ta-asobi shinji were found in the Kyushiro family artifacts, indicating its members served as miyamori around 1852.