Why does Kuroishiji Temple Somin Festival die out? A decision to protect the faith March 28th 11:48am

``Sominsai'' is a festival held in the dead of winter, when naked men compete for ``Sominbukuro'' and pray for a rich harvest and good health.

It was a traditional festival that is said to have continued for more than 1,000 years, but due to a lack of people to carry it, it came to a much-missed end in February this year.

Why did I have to decide to end it? As the investigation progressed, it became clear that the ``core'' of the festival was separate from the scenes of naked men dancing, and that they had no choice but to make this decision because they valued the faith they had maintained. It's here.

(Morioka Broadcasting Station Director Kyoichiro Yamamoto)

The shock of the end of the Kuroishiji Temple Somin Festival

Mizusawa, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture. Myokenzan Kuroishiji Temple is located along the Kitakami River, a large river that runs through the center of the prefecture.

Founded earlier than Chusonji and Motsuji in Hiraizumi, Kuroishiji is one of the oldest temples in Tohoku.

On February 17th, the history of a festival that is said to have continued for more than 1,000 years came to an end at this temple.

Kuroishiji Temple Somin Festival. It is a festival where naked men compete for ``Sominbukuro'' in the dead of winter to pray for a good harvest and good health.

It has been frequently featured in the media, and in recent years, 3,000 people, more than three times Kuroishi Town's population of 900, have gathered from all over the country and the world, and its liveliness shows no signs of slowing down.

However, in December of last year, the chief priest of Kuroishi-dera Temple suddenly announced the end of the festival. It was a huge shock.

At the press conference, the chief priest spoke about the fact that the people responsible for the festival are aging and there is a shortage of manpower.

However, it was a lively festival with so many participants. Isn't it possible to collect as many young leaders as you want?

The existence of hidden “messages of the Buddha”

We posed this question to none other than Chief Priest Daigo Fujinami (41), who has decided to end the Kuroishi Temple Somin Festival.

He has been the chief priest of Kuroishi Temple since 2018, succeeding his predecessor.

According to Chief Priest Fujinami, the ``core'' of the Sominsai festival is separate from the scene in which naked men dance.

Daigo Fujinami, chief priest of Kuroishiji Temple

: ``It's true that there are many people who come to the festival and people who are involved in it.However, there is no one who is the core of the festival.That is something that cannot be replaced.For example, even before the festival, there are many people who come to the festival and are involved. There are people who do work that is invisible to the outside world, such as cutting trees from the mountains for use in rituals, making somin bags, and making amulets to put inside bags.''

What the chief priest calls the ``core'' are the priests of Kuroishi-dera Temple.

There are only 14 danka in Kuroishi-dera Temple, and among these, 10 danka, known as ``monzen'', have played the central role.

For example, there is a ritual called otategi.

A tree was cut from the mountain near the temple, and a bamboo about 3 meters high was placed in the middle, and the tree was placed all around it.

Tie it around 12 times with a rope and secure it.

It is said that the standing tree has the meaning of a sign that ``the Somin Festival will be held here'' and that it is a place where a god resides.

This ritual is held more than a month before the festival, and it is the Danka's job to perform this ritual.

``Appearing in front of the Buddha at the Sominsai requires a certain amount of preparation and resolve.Once you have everything in place and calm your mind, you can finally have a dialogue with the Buddha.In that sense, the ritual of the process is important. I believe that preparation is the core of faith."

What kind of people are the danka who are responsible for this ritual?

And what does it mean to say, "The job is irreplaceable?"

According to Chief Priest Fujinami, the danka of Kuroishi-dera Temple have rarely appeared in the media, in contrast to the annual Sominsai coverage.

When I timidly requested an interview with the temple through the chief priest, I was able to obtain permission for the interview.

Face to face with “Buddha’s messenger”

One month ago from the day of the festival.

We visited the Dan family's house, located just a stone's throw from the grounds of Kuroishi-dera Temple.

This time, the person who agreed to our interview was Akira Watanabe (78), the representative director of the 10 dance houses.

The Watanabe family has been the temple family of Kuroishi Temple for generations, and Akira is the 8th generation. He says that he grew up being told that he was a ``messenger of the Buddha'' from an early age.

Akira Watanabe

: ``Looking at the backs of my parents' generation, I realized that they were able to serve the Buddha in this way.The Danka of Kuroishi Temple have passed down their faith from parents to children and grandchildren.''

In order to be able to send to the Buddha, the danka placed particular importance on the ``goshojin'' ritual, which is held a week before the festival.

``Meat and fish are obviously not allowed in the mouth. Also, we don't let guests into the house like we do today.If we let people who are not doing their best into the house, there is a risk of ``fire'' mixed in. It’s bad if you put it away.”

At Sominsai, fire is revered as sacred.

It is said that the fires of houses that are practicing devotion and the fires of houses that are not doing so should be separated so that they do not mix. This is what is called Betsuka Shojin.

It is said that they were also prohibited from receiving boiled water or cigarettes from homes where they were not worshiped.

Mr. Watanabe has maintained a strict faith. He also received an offer from outside to help the Danka in order to continue the festival, but he was unable to accept it.

``It is because we devote ourselves and purify ourselves year after year that we are able to present the amulets we have made to the medicine master. , I don't think the temple itself would accept that."

For generations, the task of performing these ceremonies was assigned to only 10 families, and passed down from parents to children only by word of mouth.

As the danka who carry out this work are aging, the current situation is that nearly half of the 10 houses have no heirs.

If the tradition could not be passed down within the Dan family, the Somin Festival was destined to end.

It would be a shame to end a festival that has been going on for 1000 years. And some may say that it is exclusive.

However, what if the continuation of the festival was prioritized even if it meant disrupting the rituals that the dancers have been carrying out since next year?

If you imagine yourself in the position of a Buddhist monk, you can't help but wonder, ``So, what kind of efforts have they made to pass on their strict beliefs from generation to generation?''

Of course, the decision to end this event was not the result of treating the Sominsai festival poorly, but rather, I believe that the decision was made with a heart-wrenching heart, precisely because we cherish our faith and the pride we have maintained in our faith. Felt.

The thousand-year festival is over, what's next?

February 17, 2024.

The precinct was crowded with more participants than usual and a large number of media.

The Sominsai festival was held in a shorter format than usual and ended at midnight on the 17th. The thousand-year festival brought the curtain down on history.

The next day, the 18th, at 8am.

Due to the large number of people who visited, the main hall of Kuroishi Temple was dirty with mud and sand.

Akira Watanabe, president of the Danke family, was cleaning up the mess.

"There was nothing special about it being the last time. It's the same as always."

At the end of the day, Watanabe-san muttered the following, as I was perplexed by the surprisingly calm reaction.

“But I think this festival will be passed down from generation to generation.”

Starting next year, the Kuroishiji Temple Somin Festival will not be held in its current form.

However, temples and temple families will continue to perform rituals and beliefs as best they can, including Goma prayers.

The future after the Kuroishiji Temple Somin Festival ends. How will the inheritance be carried out? New challenges are being thrown at us.

(This article was written based on the content of Iwachan's "When the Thousand-Year Festival Ends ~The Last Kuroishiji Temple Sominsai~" broadcast on February 16th.)

Morioka Broadcasting Station Director

Kyoichiro Yamamoto

Joined the station in

2019 After working in the culture and welfare program department, he currently belongs to the station