In Akune City's Sakata region, the "Hina-jyo Matsuri" is held every year on Shaka Nyorai's birthday, which is
the 8th day of April according to the ancient Japanese lunar calendar.
Similarly, when a first-born daughter is born in this region, the townspeople all come out to celebrate and
share their wishes for the children's growth and perpetuation of descendants.
Through this heartwarming tradition you can catch a glimpse of the good old traditions of Japan that still
live on today.
This festival is also called "Inochi-naga" (meaning "long life".) It is specifically held for first-born
daughters less than 1 year old that are the children of men from the same ward, with the purpose of the
festival itself being to pray for the healthy growth and long life of the young girls, so that they may
bear many children to carry on their family lines.
The festival is held in the plaza of a fishing harbor which is decorated with various colorful flags
bearing the year and the names of the first-born daughters' descendants. A musical performance begins,
and the stars of the show, the little girls dressed up as "hina-jyo", make their appearance.
The little girls are dressed up in nice clothes and light makeup, with the finishing touch being a
headband bearing their name. The little girls are absolutely adorable like this, and everyone is always
smiling when they see them.
The little girls receive congratulatory gifts from their relatives and neighbors, and it is common for
people from the same area to present them with congratulatory gifts as well.
A "Hanya-setsu" dance is performed to drums and shamisen music, to which the "Hina-kyo" are passed around
between relatives and acquaintances. The girls are carried on the various dancers' backs, as they dance
so that all the spectators can see their faces clearly.
This dance to bless the "hina-jyo" continues all the way until nightfall, and once night comes the
celebration continues at home.
For years when many girls are born, the event space will be divided into 2 or 3 areas and each family
will lay out a feast of bento boxes.
In this manner, the "hina-jyo" grow up quickly, under the watchful eye of the townspeople.
