The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival, known for its heroic pulling, will be held for the first time in three years today on the 17th and tomorrow.  Due to the spread of the new corona infection, it was canceled in 2020 and was held without spectators in 2021.  The history of the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival dates back to the middle of the Edo period.  The Kishiwada feudal lord at the time held an Inari festival to pray for a bountiful harvest, and it is a historic festival boasting a tradition of over 300 years.  The highlight of the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival is the “Yarimawashi”.  The sight of the Danjiri, which weighs more than 4 tons, running vigorously and changing direction at right angles is a sight to behold.  Lacquer and gold leaf are not used on purpose, and the wood grain of the zelkova wood is used. Contrary to the rough image, it is highly evaluated for its artistry and is called a “moving work of art.”  Every small town has a danjiri, which is said to be valued at more than 100 million yen, and 2,300 townspeople form a group and haul it around for two days from morning till night.

勇壮な引き回しで知られる「岸和田だんじり祭り」が、今日17日と明日、3年ぶりに通常開催されます。新型コロナの感染拡大で、2020年は中止、21年は無観客での開催でした。岸和田だんじり祭の歴史は江戸時代中期にまで遡ります。当時の岸和田藩主が五穀豊穣祈願のため、稲荷祭を行なったことが始まりで、300年以上の伝統を誇る由緒あるお祭りです。そんな岸和田だんじり祭のハイライトは「やりまわし」。重さ4トンを超えるだんじりが勢い良く走りながら直角に方向転換する様は圧巻です。あえて漆塗りや金箔などを施さず、欅（けやき）の木目を活かした仕上がりは、荒々しいイメージとは裏腹に、「動く芸術品」といわれるほど芸術性を評価されています。時価一億円は下らないと言われる「だんじり」を小さな町毎に持ち、二三百人の町民が一団となって、朝から晩まで、二日に渡って引き回すのです。