Fukushima Travel – Ootawara Hiki

On January 14, the annual and extraordinary winter ritual known as Ootawara Hiki was held in Aizu-Bange. This dramatic event is the highlight of Bange Hatsuichi, the town’s traditional New Year market, and has been passed down for more than 400 years as one of the most unique folk festivals in the Aizu region.

A Sacred Festival Rooted in History

Bange Hatsuichi is a shrine festival of Hitsuki Shrine, held every year on January 14. On this day, the town is divided into Kamimachi (East) and Shimomachi (West), and the two sides compete by pulling an enormous straw bale known as the Ootawara.

The current Ootawara is truly massive, measuring approximately 4 meters in length, 2.5 meters in height, and weighing around 5 tons. The sight of this giant straw bale being dragged through the town by hundreds of participants is both overwhelming and unforgettable.

According to local belief, if Kamimachi (East) wins, rice prices will rise, while if Shimomachi (West) wins, it foretells a year of abundant harvests. In earlier times, it was also said that the winning side would gain the privilege of hosting the market, making the contest a matter of pride and fortune.

From the Edo Period to the Present

The origins of Ootawara Hiki date back to 1625 during the Edo period, when the Aizu region was ruled by the Gamō clan. Although the festival was once discontinued during the turmoil of the Boshin War, it was revived in 1956 and has continued ever since as a symbol of local unity and resilience.

The Temporary Shrine of the Market Deity

In front of the town hall, a temporary shrine is erected for the occasion. The market deity (Ichigami-sama) is ceremonially transferred from Nichigetsu Shrine only for this day. This ritual transfer is known as igyō (transfer of the deity), and after the festival, the deity is respectfully returned in a ceremony called kangyō.

The Ootawara Hiki is performed directly in front of this sacred space, emphasizing its role not only as a competition, but as a religious ritual praying for prosperity, safety, and successful trade. The word ichi (market) itself refers to a designated place where goods are exchanged, highlighting the festival’s close ties to commerce and daily life.

Anyone Can Join the Pull

One of the most remarkable aspects of Ootawara Hiki is that anyone can participate. Pullers are recruited from the general public, and every year participants come not only from Fukushima, but from as far away as Kyoto and Hokkaido.

Participants, known as hikiko, believe that joining the tug-of-war will protect them from illness for the rest of the year. Many locals and repeat visitors return year after year for this reason. Teams wear traditional fundoshi loincloths and white tabi socks, dividing into red and white groups as they pull with all their strength.

Fukumame Tawara Throw: Sharing Good Fortune

After the Ootawara Hiki concludes, another beloved ritual takes place. From a specially built platform on the second floor of the town hall, 365 small “lucky bean straw bales” are thrown into the crowd (or 366 in leap years).

Each miniature straw bale measures about 6 cm in diameter and 10 cm in length, and those who catch one are said to receive good fortune throughout the year. People often take them home and place them on their household altars. Along with the straw bales, mandarins containing five-yen coins are also tossed, symbolizing wishes for good connections and prosperity.

A Living Folk Festival of Aizu

Ootawara Hiki is more than a spectacle—it is a living folk ritual that celebrates community strength, agricultural prosperity, good health, and shared hope for the coming year. The thunderous cheers, the creaking of straw, and the unity of participants create an atmosphere found nowhere else in Japan.

For travelers interested in authentic winter traditions, Aizu-Bange’s Ootawara Hiki offers a rare opportunity to experience the raw power and deep cultural roots of Fukushima’s local festivals.

https://aizubange-kanbutsu.jp/omatsuri/hatsuichi.html