Covid 19 pandemic has Takayama Festival almost called off

Takayama Festival designated as an important intangible cultural property

Autumn Takayama Festival is one of the most well known festivals in Japan with a plethora of tourists from home and abroad visiting for it every year. Takayama Festival is said to have started sometime between the late 16th century and 17th century and comprised of two festivals: “Sanno Matsuri” in spring and “Hachiman Matsuri” in autumn. 

It is designated as an important intangible cultural property by the government as a traditional event retaining remnants of the Edo period which has been carefully protected and handed down by the local people to this day. 

It is also said to be one of the three most beautiful festivals in Japan. The autumn festival is called Hachiman Matsuri. In a festival parade, 11 matsuri-yatai festival floats go around the town for two days displaying their gorgeous appearance for spectators. Ａ very popular marionette show is performed on one of those floats.

A Shinto ritual was held by only a few locals and children

Every year, about 200,000 people visit Takayama during two day festival in autumn that represents Japanese tradition. However, most of the events were canceled this year to prevent the new coronavirus infection spreading except for a Shinto ritual held at Sakurayama Hachimangu in Takayama City. 

At the Shinto ritual, small number of attendees of about thirty were allowed to enter the venue where gagaku performances and dance dedications were performed. The attendees were required to put on a mask and a transparent vinyl curtain was set up between the gagaku player and attendees to thoroughly prevent infection. 

“Festival ohayashi” (Japanese orchestra for ancient court music) which was supposed to be played at the autumn festival was also performed by the local children at Sakurayama Hachimangu with　sparse audience. Thirteen children from the first grade of elementary school to the first grade of high school played flutes and drums in the precincts. 

Takayama waits for tourists coming back after the pandemic subsides

The national travel program “Go To Travel” promoted by the Japanese government is expected to revitalize tourism industry hit heavily by the pandemic. Statistics shows that people started travelling again with recent new cases of infections having been well under 1,000 in Japan. 

Local people are looking forward to the day when they can show off the festival to tourists and visitors as they did before the pandemic. For the time being, they continue the two festivals in spring and autumn by limited local people until concerns about the infection of the new coronavirus are defused.