NEWS

Here, you can view all of Kyokuyo's life logs documented over the past 20 years. This is who we are.

QUICK FILTER

SHIPBUILDING
CORPORATE
PEOPLE
LOCAL
SHIPBUILDING
CORPORATE
PEOPLE
LOCAL
SHIPBUILDING
CORPORATE
PEOPLE
LOCAL
SHIPBUILDING
CORPORATE
PEOPLE
LOCAL
SHIPBUILDING
CORPORATE
PEOPLE
LOCAL

LATEST NEWS & ARCHIVE

BREAK009 : INNOMIYA SHRINE & SUHOTEI MATSURI

Shimonoseki Present & Past - Webmaster's Columns No.9

There is a Shintô shrine called "Iminomiya Jinja" in Chôfu quarter of Shimonoseki City, where Kyokuyo Shipyard is located. You may have seen its guardian before, as we ask him to attend our keel-laying and other ceremonies, if they are held with Shintô rites.

Innomiya Shrine, Shimonoseki City
Suhotei Matsuri - Shimonoseki

This "Jinja" has a long history. It is said that the historic shrine was built around 200 A.D. by the legendary Empress Jingû to commemorate the death of her husband, Emperor Chûai.

Innomiya Jinja hosts a unique festival "Suhôtei Matsuri" which was designated by Yamaguchi Prefecture as intangible cultural property. Every year, between August 7 and 13, local people gather at the shrine to walk around a giant stone with very tall bamboo labarums attached to their body. This year, about 200 people participated the festival (besides a lot of spectators) and the tallest labarums was 30m high, and weighed 100kg...

Believe or not, the matsuri also dates back to the 2nd century. The curious rite is said to imitate the victory dance after central Japan-based Yamato government's win against allied forces of south Japan-based Kumaso and then eastern Korea-based Silla, which attacked from the air, riding black cloud. The emperor Chûai played the central role in that war, legend says. People used to use pikes and fauchards, but they were replaced by bamboo at the end of 18th century by order of the feudal lord.

So why don't you come over to Shimonoseki to witness this curiously-ritualized-ancient-barbarism-maybe? (For those who have no such time, here are links to some youtube videos, posted by locals - not by us)

[2011/08/22]

Post 1 / 2 Next Post >
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
container
gas carrier
reefer
cement
sss bow
Builder of Advanced Merchant Ships

KYOKUYO SHIPYARD CORPORATION

8-7, Chofu Minatomachi, Shimonoseki, 752-0953 Yamaguchi, Japan
© 2002-2024, Kyokuyo Shipyard Corporation