Yama, Hoko, Yatai, Float Festivals

Yama, Hoko, and Yatai Float Festivals are Japanese traditional events in which the townspeople of each region combine their regional cultural styles.Each year, communities in cities and towns throughout Japan hold float festivals to pray for peace and protection against natural disasters.

The original form of a float, a mountain, resembles a natural mountain. Mountain floats are used in festivals, and mountain worship or Shinto shrines are still found in mountains today. A long time ago in the ancient Folk belief, gods descending from the heavens used rocks and trees on mountains, with mountaintops serving as substitutes.

As villages developed, ceremonies were held in the plains, and temporary shrines were established. Yamas, Hokos, and Yatai float festivals are traditional events that townspeople put on by bringing their region's cultural styles together. As part of traditional practice, the Yama, Hoko, and Yatai float festivals include 33 examples showcasing the diversity of local cultures throughout Japan.

The collective efforts of various sections of the community are involved, and they serve as an important aspect of a person's cultural identity. Each of these 33 festivals is considered a Japanese intangible folk cultural asset with "dashis", floats, parading through the streets as an integral part.

The organization and management of the festivals are shared by men, women, young people, and elderly people from cities and other parts of the area. All aspects of the event are accounted for, from the design and construction of the floats that represent the local culture to accompanying songs and the overall event coordination.

The floats are known by a variety of local names including Yama, Hoko, Yatai, and Kasa and are decorated in a way that draws the divine spirits to them. They welcome “yorishiro”, the divine spirits, to festivals so they can pray for the peace of the region, repel demons and to bring in abundance. The floats are created with wood carvings, Japanese lacquer, dyed textiles, and woven fabric, all preserved by the locals.

Through the traditional Japanese craftsmanship of wood carving and Japanese lacquer, the Japanese government has been able to preserve the "Yama, Hoko, and Yatai" for many centuries. As a result, a method was used to preserve materials, labor, and the environment.

There are numerous displays and oral traditions that constitute religious festivals and are actively practiced by the locals. In addition to fostering transgenerational conversation, "Yama, Hoko, and Yatai" events also serve an essential role in connecting communities.