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- Asuke Spring Festival (Annual Asuke Jinja Shrine Festival / Shigenori Festival)
Toyota-City Asuke Spring Festival (Annual Asuke Jinja Shrine Festival / Shigenori Festival)
Date : 04/13/2024, 04/14/2024
Ornately decorated parade floats of traditional construction festoon Asuke's historic townscape
The Asuke Spring Festival, otherwise known as the Annual Asuke Jinja Shrine Festival or Shigenori Festival is held by Asuke Jinja Shrine, located to the east of Asuke Hachimangu Shrine. The festival sings praise to Asuke Jiro Shigenori, a local hero who fought feircely for Emperor Godaigo of the Southern Court at Mt. Kasagi in Kyoto. The festival was originally held on May 3 when Shigenori died in battle, but is currently held on the second Sunday of April and the preceding day when the area's cherry blossoms come into bloom.
The festival takes place in the center of the Asuke area among seven towns (Shin’o-cho, Ta-machi, Hon-machi, Shin-machi, Nishi-machi, Miya-machi, and Shoei-cho). The towns parade their hanagurumas, or parade floats festooned in cherry blossoms and wisteria blossoms, throughout Asuke's historic townscape. Young men in their 20s take the helm of these ornate hanagurumas, directing the floats through Asuke's townscape while young girls in their teens beat drums and sing to the melodies of the musical accompaniment.
This festival is considered the flamboyant and feminine complement to the area's fall festival—considered the masculine and valiant half to Asuke's lively festival culture.