2026 "Fighting Festival" (Kenka Matsuri), Yokkaichi, Japan ・ 令和8年令和8年・ 三重県四日市市富田一色けんか祭り

This video shows scenes from the 2026 "Fighting Festival" (Kenka Matsuri). This is an annual event, held in mid-August in Tomida-Isshiki-chō, Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture. Once upon a time, this festival was a very dangerous event, sometimes even leading to fatalities among the participants. Nowadays, it is much a less violent event. The scenes shown here were filmed on August 14, 2026, the first day of this two-day festival. On the first day, men representing different neighbourhoods of Tomida-Isshiki-chō, parade through the streets, carrying long, white poles, while chanting and banging metal gongs. This part of the festival is known as "Chōneri", i.e. town parade. As the men walk through the town, local people water douse them with water from hoses and buckets, which, in the sweltering summer heat, the cool water is surely much appreciated. 令和8年8月14日・富田一色けんか祭り (町練り) 鉦を鳴らして邪気を追払い、精霊を迎える大念仏の祭礼。鎌倉時代から始まり、現在の形になったのは明治時代とのことです。初日の14日は地域の町内を鉦を鳴らして練り、各家の厄を祓い清めていきます。水を浴びてびしょ濡れになり、威勢よく鉦を打ち、かけ声をかける祭人らをご覧ください。 15日は「本練り」、飛鳥神社へ入ろうとする鉦とそれを阻む太鼓の激しい練りは気迫があります。 #japaneseculture #祭り#四日市