Yaotsu-cho Countryside Stays JapanSustainable Yaotsu

“Itokiri Karakuri”, a technique selected as a national intangible folk cultural property with a history of over 400 years

The Kutami Karakuri Festival began in 1590, when Inaba Ukon Katadori took possession of this region, and the center of Kutami was a large village, even though it was in the mountains, so it was held in a similar way to the city. It is said that he started the current festival.

“Projects” that are new every year

Rather than continuing to use the thread-cutting mechanism that has been preserved for generations, the tradition is to create a new one every year and spend about two and a half months creating it and showing it off. The people in charge of the production are the townspeople who gather after finishing their day’s work. All six danjiris in each district of the town have the same specifications for the wooden stage base and operating parts. Therefore, the content of the performances in each area is where wisdom comes from. While incorporating current events, everything is secretly produced and never revealed until the day of the dedication.

transmitted by word of mouth

The “Matsubayashi” of the Kutami Festival is played on a “Shinobue,” a simple, ancient Japanese flute made of thin bamboo “Onnatake” with finger holes. Flute practice begins about two months before the festival, and is passed down orally to future generations without any storage medium such as sheet music. The Kutami Festival is said to have started in 1590, but the content of the “thread-cutting mechanism” and the sound of the festival music have been passed down from generation to generation for over 400 years. It was passed on to the current Kutami Festival.