Kamakura Matsuri

Kamakura Matsuri (Snow Hut Festival)

February 15-17

Kamakura Matsuri is held in northern Japan in the Akita Prefecture, at the time of year when there is usually deep snow on the ground. The original purpose of the festival was to offer prayers for a good rice crop to Suijin-sama, the water god.
In Yokote and other towns of the region, children build Kamakura, snow houses about six feet in diameter resembling Eskimo igloos. They furnish the huts with tatami mats and a wooden altar dedicated to Suijin-sama and have parties in them, while families gather to drink sweet sake and eat rice cakes and fruits. The rice cakes are made in the shape of cranes and turtles, traditional symbols of longevity, and of dogs called inukko, thought to guard against devils.
A similar Kamakura Festival is held in Tokamachi in Niigata Prefecture on Jan. 14.

CONTACTS:
Akita City Hall
1-1-1 Sanno
Akita, 010-0951 Japan
81-1-8863-2033; fax: 81-1-8866-2278
www.pref.akita.jp/e

SOURCES:
BkHolWrld-1986, Feb 15
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 177
(c)

Celebration days: Feb 15 - Feb 17