Matsue
Horan enya
Memorial Hall

Highlights of Horan Enya
“Horan Enya” is also written “豊来栄弥” and “宝来遠弥”, with characters such as “fertility”,“wealth” and “prosperity”, showing earnest prayers for fertile harvests. The song is used to keep

Songsrhythm, and each of the five areas uses a unique tone and melody.
The chants of “Ho-oh-enya

Ho-ran-ey-ye

Yoyasanosa

Ho-raranoranra” make a pleasantecho as they stay with you. If a change in rhythm is required the song can be altered. Some areas
alternate between seven songs.
The dances by the Kengai, Zaifuri andWhat is Horan Enya?

Taiko team are k nown as Kaidenmaodori. Toward the end of the Edo period,

Horan Enya’s official name is “Matsue Jozan Inari Shrine Spirit Transfer

fishermen from the village of Kaka learned

Festival” and is a nautical Shinto Festival where the Divine Spirit of Matsue

them from the Echigo region (modern dayDancesJozan Inari Shrine is brought by boat to Adakaya Shrine in Higashi Izumo,Niigata) and they began to be included inroughly 10 kilometres away, to facilitate 7 days of prayer for stability and fertility

Kengai – Hero Dancer

Horan Enya. They were said to be veryin the Izumo region before returning to its original shrine.

popular at the time. The heroic Kengai

This festival sees a parade of over 100 boats on the Ohashi and Iu Rivers once

dances and the beautiful Zaifuri dances

every 10 years. As one of the top boat festivals in Japan it is the pride of Matsue.

were said to fascinate the public. Dances,

Horan Enya comprises of three festivals: the Togyosai, where the Divine Spirit is brought to Adakaya by boat; thelike the songs, differ between each village.

Chuunichisai, the middle day of the week of prayers at Adakaya Shrine; and the Kangyosai, where the Divine Spirit
is returned to Jozan Inari Shrine, again by boat.

The Shimenawa (Shinto “enclosingrope”) and beautifully embroidered aprons

Clotheson the waist of the Kengai, is modeled after

Taiko – Drums

Zaifuri – Female Dancer

The origins of Horan Enya

those worn by high ranking Sumo wrestlers. The feminine attire of the Zaifuri and Taiko teamcostume feature a Yuzen printed silk kimono over a traditional under-kimono called a Nagajuban.
The Taiko team also wear cute hats called Hanagasa and Eboshi.

In 1648, due to the unstable weather in the Izumo region, the harvest of rice and other grains was in danger.
This deeply concerned the lord of the Matsue domain, Matsudaira Naomasa, so he had the Divine Spirit of Jozan
Inari Shrine carried by ship to Adakaya shrine to pray for good harvest over a long period. This was the beginning

The boats originally began their journey on the moats of Matsue
Castle, around the Kitasomon Bridge, but as the moats grew smallerof Horan Enya. The prayers were successful and the region was blessed with a bountiful harvest. The festival has
continued for the 370 years since then.

and the boats larger, it became necessary to depart from the Ohashi

BoatsRiver. The Mikoshibune which carried the Divine Spirit and the escortof Kaidenma-sen and other boats form a link of 100 boats which
stretches over one kilometre.
The dazzling colours which adorn the boats adds beauty to the festival.

Portrait of Matsudaira Naomasa

Jozan Inari Shrine

The Five Great Areas of Horan EnyaKaidenma-sen and their crews

The “Five Great Areas”, or Godaichi, refers to the villages of Makata, Yada, Ooi, Fukutomi and Oomizaki. WhenKaidenma-sen play an important role escorting and protecting the boat

the 1808 festival was beset with rough winds and rain, fishermen from the village of Makata helped bring the boat

carrying the Divine Spirit. The crew is made up of exclusively male locals, whocarrying the Divine Spirit safely to Adakaya Shrine. In each festival since then, they continue to escort the Divine

sing “Horan Enya” to Taiko drums while the Kengai and Zaifuri dance.

Spirit in boats called Kaidenma-sen. A number of other villages joined soon after.
The villages see their escort duty as a prime responsibility and each resident in each village contributes.

The chant-song “Horan Enya” is used to keep rowing rhythm and is thought
to be the origin of the festival’s common name.

1st Boat Makata
MatsueCastleJozan Inari Shrine

Shinjiko Ohashi
Kunibiki Ohashi
Shin-Ohashi
Matsue Shinjiko
Onsen St.
Ohas
hi RiverMatsue Ohashi
To IzumoGrand Shrine
JR Sanin LineMatsue St.
Yomegashima

OomizakiTogyosai

Lake Shinji

Ooi
Yada

NakaumiNakaumi Ohashi

Fukutomi

Kangyosai

MakataHigashi-matsue
StationDenma-chou – BoatLeader

Iu RiverIya Station

Adakae Bridge
To Shinji

Chuunichisai

To Yonago

Adakaya Shrine

2nd Boat Yada

3rd Boat Ooi

4th Boat Fukutomi

5th Boat Oomizaki

Ondotori – Rhythm
LeaderThe Ondotori plays an
The Denma-chou is incharge of all activities on a important role keeping theKaidenma-sen. They stand rowers in rhythm. In theirimposingly in the centre of grand costume they hold their
the boat at all times and order hands on their hips and singthe other crewmembers. They “Horan Enya” from deep
are responsible for the ship’s in their chests, helping therowers and dancers keep insafety and smooth sailing.
rhythm.

Kengai –Heroic Dancer

Zaifuri –Feminine Dancer

Positioned at the front
The Zaifuri are the stars
ofthe show, well dressed in
end of the boat, the Kengai
colourful female kimono.
masterfully wields a 1m long
They dance while swinging
paddle imitating a sword their large bamboo batons(also called a Kengai) and called zai. They perform on
performs a hero’s dance. top of barrels at the back of
Their appearance is based on the boat while gracefullyswaying their bodies andthat of classic kabuki actors
swinging their zai at theand sumo wrestlers.
heavens.

Hayasuke –Pole Pilot

Nerikai –Rudder Pilot

The Hayasuke skillfully
wields a long push pole anduses it to steer the boat awayfrom other boats, etc., andensure the Kaidenma-sen’ssmooth sailing. Because theystand out in their positionat the front of the boat, theywear creative costumes
unique to each village.

In some areas they arecalled Tomogai (stern rowers),
they control the rudder of theKaidenma-sen. The rudder ofa Kaidenma-sen is a giant oar
which the Nerikai grips withboth hands and controls with
their whole body to steer theboat according to the Denmachou’s directions. They signal
the movement of the boatwith song.

Taiko – Drummers

Kaikata – Rowers

The drummers wear
colourful costumes andtraditional hats calledHanagasa and Eboshi.
This role is often given toelementary school children.
They kneel in traditional
posture and hold a serious
gaze while assisting in
keeping the rhythm.

Kaikata are the rowersof the Kaidenma-sen. They
make up about two thirds
o f t h e c r e w. T h e y w e a r
colourfully dyed festival
clothes called Happi withcollars and headbands androw with all their might while
singing and chanting “HoranEnya.”