| Tachifuri is an annual festival that takes
place in Shima shrine 1 located in Nakasuji
machi, Ayabe city on October 10. 2 It is a
ceremony with "Taiko Odori," dance to the beat of drums with a
sword in hands, which is designated as the first intangible cultural asset
by Ayabe city in September, 1965, and also by Kyoto prefecture in 1984. It
can be seen as a sort of Shintoistic art, but like "Bonote
in Owari" 3 it obviously reflects a series of
movements of martial arts. |
Shima Shrine in Ayabe city
Maido of Shima Shrine
|
| There remains no documents nor oral tradition
referring to its relationships with Kukishin Ryu; but in terms of body
movements and footwork we can clearly recognize the old form of Kukishin
Ryu in the dance. In specific, "tsuyuharai," in which two boys
hit at each other with staffs called "Sanyare," gives us the
notion what "Gohou" and "Uragohou" (Bojutsu techniques
of Kukishin Ryu) was like in old times. And we can see "Gobou"
in the name of Kata in the festival, which suggests commonality in terms
of pronunciation. We cannot see Spear techniques in "Tachifuri";
however, names like "Yari-de"and "Yari-no-te"(both
Spear techniques in Japanese) can be seen, so it can be assumed that spear
techniques were absorbed in the course of time. |
Nerimaki procession |
We would like to see the outline of the festival
by quoting from Ayabe shi shi (The history of Ayabe: vol. 1,
chapter 3) and Kyoto no geino (Folk Entertainment in Kyoto)
compiled by Board of Education of Kyoto. |
| The festival starts at about 9 a.m.with Nerikomi4, a
procession on the approach to the shrine to the beat of drums, led by a
leader with a bamboo stick in his hand and hakama clothes on. After
getting to Maido in the premises, they perform Tachiburi at the left side
and Taiko Odori at the right side, both of which are performed
simultaneously and they try to coordinate 5 so
that they can finish at the same time approximately within an hour. |
| Tachiburi is also called "Onya" because
of cries "Onyaa" performers shout with body movements. Six kinds
of them are preserved today, each containing five to seven basic
movements(called Kusari). Among "Furimono"(Emono, or weapons in
martial arts), "Tsumagakushi" is a dagger; judging from the
usage of the weapon, the word may imply "Tsubagakushi." |
Tsuyuharai |
Tsumagakushi |
Kodachi |
| Tsuyuharai |
1 Reitachi 2.kasanoshita 3
Koshiguruma 4 Yarite 5 Horagaya |
| Tsumagakushi |
1 Reitachi 2 Konohagaeshi 3 Kimata 4 Kasumi |
| Kodachi |
1 Reitachi 2 Tsubadome 3 Tonuke 4 Yokemichi
5 Konohagaeshi 6 Horagaya |
| Nodachi |
1 Shibainagi 2 Kasumi 3 Shikorootoshi 4
Tamasudare 5 Kesyanagashi 6 Horakayashi |
| Konaginata |
1 Reitachi 2 Gobou 3 Yabarai 4 Maeotoshi 5
Koteotoshi 6 Tonuke 7 Horakayashi |
| Oonaginata |
1 Reitachi 2 Hizaaburi 3 Yarinote 4
K9irikatsugi 5 Maeburo 6 Koteotoshi 7 Horakayashi |
 |
Nodachi |
Nodachi |
Konaginata |
Konaginata |
 |
 |
| Taiko Odori |
| Notice |
| 1 |
Engishiki-naisha style. The shrine is consecrated to Susanoono-mikoto.
According to an anecdote handed down in the shrine, the shrine was set up
at the site in 737 in a hope to subdue an epidemic of smallpox in the
region in 736.The shrine, with its divine power in easy delivery and cures
for diseases, receives respect of people. |
| 2 |
The ceremony used to take place on October 11 before the World War II.
It is said that the ceremony was discontinued for a short period in the
Taisho period, but it has been annually held after that. |
| 3 |
Schools of Bojutsu in Owari(Aichi prefecture). There remains a few
schools like Genji Ten Ryu and Muni Ryu. |
| 4 |
There was a music accompaniment in Nerikomi procession until the Meiji
period according to The history of Ayabe city, but there is no
music accompaniment now. Performers of "Tachiburi" are
usually followed by performers of "Taiko-odori." |
| 5 |
It is said there was Kyoden interlude in between Tachiburi and Taiko-odori;
they alternated dances and inteludes, which took half a day to finish the
event. Among other things that are not performed today are "Hananaga"(
Sarutahiko) and "Katana-odori." |
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