Doburoku Festival in Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site. World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go Doburoku Festival.

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Every year, from the end of September to October, Shirakawa-go holds a doburoku festival to pray to the mountain gods for a good harvest, safety in the home, and peace in the village. This festival is unique to Shirakawa-go, with its history and traditions, and is held at shrines in each district of Shirakawa Village, where Shinto rituals such as Mikami, lion dances, and folk songs and dances related to history and folk tales are performed. As the name suggests, "doburoku" is used as the sacred sake during the festival and is served to the people.
Doburoku" is made at the shrine's brewery in late January, when the ground is covered with snow, using a unique technique that has been passed down from generation to generation. After the doburoku ceremony, the doburoku is transferred from a large sake barrel to a container called a kittate, which is used for serving the sake.
In the Bongei-den, folk songs that have been nurtured over the long history of the festival are performed, including "Kodaijin," which is said to be a corruption of "Kodaijin," "Shirakawa Okesa," "Shousho-bushi," and "Shirakawa Wajima. The songs are the same in each village, but the highlight of the festival is that the dances are different in each village.

Doburoku, which tastes different in each village, is a very important event for Shirakawa Village, as it connects the villagers and their guests from faraway places, and is a way of expressing gratitude for the harvest together. Even today, the doburoku is a nostalgic reminder of the hometown and welcomes visitors with warmth and hospitality.


Image courtesy of Shirakawa Village Office
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