Shinto Ritual in Shimane - Horan Enya
The Shikinen Shinkosai festival of Jozan Inari Shrine, fondly known to local people as "Horan-enya" is the shinto ritual - one of the three largest boat festivals in Japan, together with Miyajima's Kangeisai, and Osaka's Tenjin boat parade.
The festival has a history of 370 years and is held once a decades in Matsue city, in Shimane Prefecture to pray for a bountiful harvest. This year's festival will run from May 18 to 26.
In the event, about 100 ships colorfully decorated in a traditional manner, sail through Lake Shinjiko, Ohashigawa Bridge, and Nakaumi.
The biggest attraction of the festival is the "Kaisenma" ships on which performers in old period costumes dance and play instruments, and paddling young men sing out.
For more information about Horan-enya, see the following link. https://www.nakaumi.jp/sanin-japan/
