Sai no Kami Event

History of Sai no Kami Events

January 1 is called New Year's Day (Taishogatsu), while January 15 is referred to as Little New Year (Koshogatsu). This is because the 15th day of the lunar month was traditionally considered a significant date, but due to the influence of calendar techniques from China, the celebration gradually shifted to January 1, leading to the 15th being called Little New Year. Various events were held on Little New Year, one of which is the Sai no Kami event.
The Sai no Kami event involves gathering New Year's pine decorations and shimekazari in one place and burning them, and it is a nationwide event. It is known by different names in various regions, such as Dondo-yaki, Sagichou, Saito-yaki, and Saito-barai. This event reflects a belief in the sanctity of fire, with sayings that if you place your body near the burning fire, you will become strong, or that eating dumplings roasted over the fire will prevent illness, or that displaying your calligraphy over the fire will improve your writing skills.
In many areas of Eastern Japan, this is often associated with the worship of Dosojin. Dosojin is a deity that prevents the intrusion of evil spirits and is enshrined at village borders and crossroads, thus also serving to protect travelers.

Sai no Kami Festival of Inagi City

In Inagi City, Sai no Kami events have been held in various regions, traditionally by small districts or groups. While some areas discontinued or diminished these events in the 1940s, they were revived in the 1960s and 1970s and continue to this day. Since their revival, many aspects such as the organizing bodies, content, schedule, and scale have changed. Therefore, let us restore the traditional Sai no Kami events here.

Old Sai no Kami Festival (in the Yanokuchi and Sakahama areas)

Building a Sai no Kami Hut

Around the time after the Seven Herbs Festival, children, mainly from Elementary and Junior High Schools, gather materials such as bamboo, wood, and straw to build a hut (note: also called a yagura) and go around to collect New Year's decorations from each household. Around the 11th, they create a hut for Sai no Kami. The framework of the hut is made in a conical shape using bamboo and wood, and it is surrounded by straw and decorations. Once the hut is completed, a stone of Dourokujin is enshrined inside.

After the hut is completed

For a few days after the hut is completed until it is burned, the children will stay and sleep inside the hut to protect it. This is because young people from other regions may come and set fire to the hut or steal the sacred stone of Dorokujin.

Mayudama Dango

We will make Mayudama dumplings, which are eaten during the Sai no Kami event around the 13th.

Burning the hut

On the 14th or 15th, we will burn the hut. When we burn it, not only children but also adults will gather. We will decorate the fire with dumplings and rice cakes skewered on branches. It is said that eating these dumplings and rice cakes will ensure good health for a year, and that burning the calligraphy will help improve writing skills. Once the fire has settled, we will take out the Dourokujin stone from inside and bury it somewhere else to hide it.

Sai no Kami Event, Differences Between the Past and Present

Implementing Organization

In the past, children such as elementary and junior high school students were the main participants. Now, adults are at the center, with children assisting (adults are from the Youth Development District Committee and Neighborhood Association in each area). The scale of implementation has expanded from individual lectures and small units to district units, and the size of the Sai no Kami shrine has also increased compared to the past.

Implementation Schedule

In the past, preparations began after the 7th and the burning took place on the 14th or 15th. Now, preparations and the burning day are conducted on the Saturday, Sunday, or holiday closest to the 15th. The schedule is determined according to the convenience of the adults.

Implementation Response

In the past, people used to stay in the Sai no Kami's hut, set fire to huts in other regions, and steal the sacred stone of Dourokujin, but now such customs are almost nonexistent.

Implementation Location

In the past, there was a designated place for the Sai no Kami event, but now it is held in parks, vacant lots, and rice fields, choosing locations that are not adjacent to houses. The Sai no Kami event has rapidly changed to adapt to modern society. This includes changes in the content of the event, as well as the revival of things that had diminished in new forms, but it continues to live on in the present while preserving traditions in each region.

Reference citations. "Folklore of Inagi City (Volume 1)" "History of Inagi City Volume 2"

Schedule of Sai no Kami Events

• Sai no Kami
  Please check here for the schedule of this year's Sai no Kami event.