Ghosts and Halloween
How is everyone spending their yokai life?
I'm Kotaro, a biwa storyteller.
Kannazuki will soon come to an end, and Shimotsuki will arrive.
Coincidentally, the last day of Kannazuki is Halloween.
In the first place, Halloween is a New Year's Eve festival in Japan.
In the ancient Celtic Druid beliefs, the new year begins on November 1st, which is the beginning of the winter season. This festival is called Samhain, and since sunset marks the beginning of a new day in the ancient Celts, the festival begins on the night of October 31st.
The Druids of Ireland and Britain would light bonfires, offer crop and animal sacrifices, and dance around the fire to mark the passing of the season of sun and the beginning of the season of darkness.
On the morning of November 1st, the Druid priests give each household some embers from this fire, which they take home to light new fires in their hearths and keep their homes warm.
It is believed that during this time an invisible "gate" opens between this world and the spirit world, making it possible to travel freely between the two worlds, and this fire is used to warm homes to prevent evil fairies from entering.
For more details, see Wikipedia.
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%8F%E3%83%AD%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A3%E3%83%B3
So, the last day of Kannazuki in Japan, outside of Izumo, is the day of Kamimukae, when the gods return home after holding a meeting called Kamuhari in Izumo.
Izumo is in Shimane prefecture.
In Shimane, October is called the month of the gods, and the Kamimukae Festival is an opening ceremony held on October 10th of the lunar calendar to welcome gods from all over the country.
In other words, gods from all over the country gather in Izumo for a month-long conference trip, and Shimane holds various festivals to host the conference.
To begin with, the date for the Izumo conference has already been decided.
October 1st on the lunar calendar: Departure for Izumo for "God Sending Off"
People from all over the country leave for Izumo
October 10th of the lunar calendar: Arrival at Izumo: "Welcome to the Gods"
Arrive in Izumo.
Lunar 11th to 17th October: "Kamiari Festival"
A divine council is held.
October 17th of the lunar calendar: "Karasadesai" (Festival of the Departure of the Gods)
Departing from the land of Izumo, each one headed their own way.
October 26th of the lunar calendar: "Gods' Departure Ceremony"
He reports to Okuninushi-no-Mikoto that the gods have returned from the land of Izumo.
Last day of October in the lunar calendar: "God welcoming"
The gods return.
This is the schedule.
For more information, please visit the Izumo Tourism Association here.
https://www.izumo-kankou.gr.jp/6404
From the perspective of the Japanese gods, Halloween means coming back from a business trip and having some crazy party!! (Actually, according to the old calendar, the gods haven't left for Izumo yet, and there are also absent-person gods, so they're probably watching over us with lukewarm eyes, thinking we're having fun.)
Well then!!
This year, 2020, events linking "yokai and Halloween" will be held all over the country.
The whole town is filled with monsters! Mononoke Village Event
"Miyajima Mononoke Halloween"
Organizer: Miyoshi Tourism and Urban Development Organization
Co-organized by Miyoshi City and the Yumoto Goichi Memorial Japanese Yokai Museum
Cooperation: Miyoshi City Tourism Association, Miyoshi District Residents' Association, Miyoshi Hondori Shopping District Promotion Association
https://mononoke-halloween.com/
Twitter account
Needless to say, Miyoshi City in Hiroshima Prefecture is the setting of the famous monster picture scroll "Inubou-bi-koroku."
The village of monsters has finally begun to move. Monsters are roaming the streets at night and spreading from all over the place. And with the cooperation of everyone in the city, a wonderful "Monster and Halloween" event will be held.
Although it is a short story, it is well known in the world of yokai that the former members of the Miyoshi City Regional Revitalization Support Team are Karasu Tengu.
The schedule is here
https://mononoke-halloween.com/time-schedule
As a program
"Night Museum at the Japanese Yokai Museum" @ Yumoto Goichi Memorial Japanese Yokai Museum (paid)
The Yumoto Goichi Memorial Japanese Yokai Museum is extending its normal business hours and will be open until 8pm! Special exhibitions are also being held!
"Mononoke Cosplay Contest" Miyoshi Mononoke Museum Lawn Square Free
We will be holding a cosplay contest with a monster theme. We are looking for people who want to show off their best cosplay on stage and be in the spotlight! (In case of rain: will proceed in light rain, will be canceled in heavy weather)
"Authentic Yokai ODORO Gathers!" @Free admission to the entire venue
The authentic monster group ODORO has gathered!
More than 15 life-sized monsters with a realistic design will be gathered together! Original monsters from Inabi-bi-kairoku, set in Miyoshi, will also be appearing!
"Robo Restaurant's Yokai Robots Make an Appearance!" @Miyoshi Mononoke Museum Lawn Square Free
The legendary Robot Restaurant, which attracts over 200,000 people a year in Shinjuku Kabukicho, has brought a robot yokai to Miyoshi! Don't miss the collaboration with Miyoshi Taiko!
"Traditional Shinto Dance, Kagura" @ Himikogura Free
The traditional Miyoshi performing art of Kagura will be held with the hope of an early end to the COVID-19 pandemic and the elimination of ill health! <In case of rain> Light rain will cause the event to be cancelled due to the outdoor stage.
"Mononoke Make-up Experience" @ Miyoshi Mononoke Museum Free
You can try out full-scale monster makeup for free. You too will become part of the monsters' club! If you take a photo together, you'll definitely be able to take some great photos!
"Official Event Ambassador" @Miyoshi Mononoke Museum Free
Famous cosplayers Shinozaki Kokoro and Miyamoto Saki will be taking part in the Mononoke Halloween event! A talk show is also scheduled for Friday, October 30th.
Yokai BAR@Cobbled Street
Enjoy Halloween night to the fullest at the Yokai BAR run by the monsters!
Cobblestone Street Light-up @ Cobblestone Street Free
The cobblestone streets are especially lit up for a special atmosphere! Don't miss the Mononoke lanterns!
There are also plenty of other delicious foods from Miyoshi City!
*Please cooperate with coronavirus infection prevention measures.
Twitter Participation Event
"Youkai-Halloween"
Organizer
The "Yokai and Halloween" event is finally being held in the cyber world.
You can participate by tweeting a photo (videos are also acceptable) of yourself in a yokai costume on the members-only social networking site "Twitter" with the hashtag #yokaihalloween between 8pm and 9pm on October 31st, 2020!
The organizer, Mr. Kouno, is a local yokai event planner and director, a professional in yokai art, and is also responsible for the Kyoto Ichijo Hyakki Yakou. This year, on October 17th, he held a similar event to Youkai-Halloween, the Cyber Ichijo Hyakki Yakou, which was a huge success.
Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, why not unleash your smoldering spirit on the digital world of Twitter?
At the same time, the # Mail Order Mononoke Market will also be held!
There are a variety of items that will help you get closer to the yokai!!
Check it out on Twitter now, including the previous #CyberIchijoHyakkiYagyo.
Adult Yokai Project
"Ryugu Halloween"
Organizer
Japanese Musical Instruments BAR Ryugu~Ryu Guwhttps://twitter.com/RyuGuw
Ori the Yokai Shapeshifterhttps://twitter.com/ori_cos718
October 31st from 6pm
Japanese Musical Instruments Bar Ryu Guw Koenji
[Ryugu Halloween]
This is the "Yokai and Halloween" event at Japanese musical instrument bar Ryugujo in Koenji, where you can see the latest yokai costumes of the famous yokai shapeshifter Ori-sensei.
Both costumed and non-costume-wearing parties are welcome. Mr. Ori will be waiting for you as a yokai bartender. There will be Halloween-only sweets.
Why not spend an elegant Halloween at a bar with a Japanese atmosphere?
*Please cooperate with COVID-19 prevention measures.
Ryugujo reservation desk is here ↓
https://airrsv.net/ryuguw/calendar
Participation event for monster extermination
"Searching for the Three Great Swords - Chatan Nakiri - Halloween Edition"
Provided by: Ashibi-enterprise Co., Ltd.
Twitter account
The appeal of the yokai is not only that they run rampant at night, but also that the bad yokai are defeated, which adds to the appeal of the story. If you can decide the ending of the story, you will definitely become a hero!
This event will be powered up as a brutal version only for Halloween! It is an event where you will have to defeat monsters that everyone in Okinawa has heard about from their grandmothers by completing missions with a sacred sword.
Ryukyu Ninjas are so cool! Their treasured swords, Chatan Nakiri, are so cool!
Why not try weaving a story of the Ryukyu Ninja with your own hands?
[Date and Time]
October 30th 18:00-21:00
October 31st 13:00-16:30 17:30-20:00
*We expect it to be busy on the day, so please make your reservation early!
[Fee] ¥1500 (Ninja costume rental included)
Those who come in costume will receive a 500 yen discount.
[Capacity] 2-4 people per group
[Time required] About 20 minutes
[Address] 8-10 Mihama, Chatan Town, Okinawa Prefecture
Please cooperate with coronavirus prevention measures.
For details and reservations, click here↓
https://www.ashibi-ent.com/event/
2020 is packed with yokai and Halloween events, where you can enjoy Halloween as a yokai or become a ninja hero who defeats yokai.
Whether in person, in the cyber world, or on the Internet, the yokai are sure to be having fun, sometimes changing form, and sometimes not.
Wishing you all a wonderful time this Halloween!
We would like to thank each organization for their cooperation in writing this article. We would like to express our sincere gratitude.
(Written by Kotaro, a Biwa Storyteller)
★Introducing Yokai Lover★
Kotaro the Biwa Storyteller
A biwa player playing the Higo Biwa, a nationally designated intangible cultural asset.
Aiming to become a beloved biwa player, I perform in various places in human form and as a yokai "Biwa Tanuki." Please contact me on Twitter for inquiries about performances and performance experiences!
Twitter Biwa Storyteller Kotaro https://twitter.com/biwagatarikota
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