If you like, please repeat it out loud in Japanese.
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2025年12月16日。
December 16, 2025.
今日は、静岡県浜松市に伝わる伝統行事、「秋葉の火祭り」についてお伝えします。
Today, we’ll be reporting on the Akiba Fire Festival, a traditional event held in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
炎が闇夜を切り裂き、空気は張り詰めます。
Flames cut through the dark night, creating a tense atmosphere.
しかし、この祭りはただの火祭りではありません。
But this festival is more than just a fire festival.
舞台は秋葉神社。
The setting is Akiba Shrine.
ここでは、秘伝の「弓・剣・火の三舞」が披露されます。
Here, the secret “Three Dances of Bow, Sword, and Fire” are performed.
火を鎮め、火を敬い、火と共に生きる。
Extinguish the fire, respect it, and live with it.
山の民の信仰は今も息づいています。
The faith of the mountain people lives on today.
弓の舞は邪気を払うため。
The bow dance is to ward off evil spirits.
剣の舞は身を清めるため。
The sword dance is to purify the body.
そして、火の舞はクライマックスであり、神への祈りです。
And the fire dance is the climax, a prayer to the gods.
派手な演出はありません。
There are no flashy performances.
だからこそ、一つ一つの動きと揺らめく炎は、観る人の心に深く響きます。
Which is why each movement and the flickering flames resonates deeply with the viewers.
日本の冬は静かに、そして力強く始まります。
Japan’s winter begins quietly yet powerfully.
秋葉の火祭りは、私たちにそのことを教えてくれます。
The Akiba Fire Festival teaches us this.
今が旬の野菜は、大根、白菜、ほうれん草。
Vegetables that are in season right now are radish, Chinese cabbage, and spinach.
体を温めて冬を迎えましょう。
Let’s warm up our bodies and welcome winter.
朝食に感謝。
Thank you for breakfast.
応援と評価、宜しくお願い致します。
Thank you for your support and ratings.
🔥 Akiba Fire Festival: The Tradition of Fire Veneration
This festival is the central event of the Akiba faith, which is nationally known for its deity who protects against fire (hibuse). Below, we provide the background, history, and supplementary information related to the festival details you shared.
Official Name and Location
- Official Names: Akiba no Himatsuri (Akiba Fire Festival) or Akibasan Himatsuri (Akiba Mountain Fire Festival).
- Host/Location: Akihasan Hongū Akiba Shrine (Akihasan Hongū Akiba Jinja).
- Address: Ryōke, Haruno-chō, Tenryū-ku, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.
- Significance: This shrine is nestled deep in the mountainous region of Enshū, near the summit of Mount Akiba (866m / 2,841 ft). It is considered the Grand Head Shrine for all Akiba Shrines across Japan.
The Core Ritual: The “Three Dances” (Sanmai)
As mentioned, the “Three Dances of the Bow, Sword, and Fire” are the center of the ritual and the greatest highlight of the festival. These sacred dances are performed by Shinto priests.
- The Bow Dance (Kyū no Mai): Uses a bow and arrow to shoot away evil spirits and purify the four directions.
- The Sword Dance (Ken no Mai): Wields a sword to drive away evil forces and cleanse the body and spirit.
- The Fire Dance (Hi no Mai):
- Following ancient customs, torches are lit in front of the main sanctuary. The priest then dances amidst the blazing flames.
- This is the powerful climax of the festival—a ceremony of unity between the human and the divine, in which fire is presented to the deity, recognizing the deity’s power to prevent disaster.
- This is the most intense dance and creates the most sacred atmosphere.
The Akiba Faith and the Deity of Fire
- The Deity (Saijin):Hokagutsuchi no Ōkami (Hi no Kagutsuchi no Ōkami).
- This is the God of Fire in Japanese mythology.
- Spiritual Meaning:
- During the Edo period, when devastating fires were common, Mount Akiba became revered nationwide as the “God of Fire Prevention” and “Lord of Fire.” Devotion was strong among common people and samurai alike.
- Groups called Akiba Kō (Akiba Associations) were formed across the country, and proxy pilgrimages (where a representative traveled to the shrine for many others) were frequent, signifying the faith’s prosperity.
- The purpose of the festival is not just to quell fire but also to respect and give thanks to fire for its blessings in daily life—cooking, warmth, and forging. This embodies the “mountain people’s faith” mentioned in your original text.
Date and Season
- Date: Annually on the night of December 15th.
- The ritual is long and often runs past midnight, meaning the main events conclude early on the 16th. The sacred ceremonies begin on the night of the 15th.
- Season: Since the event takes place around the traditional end of the old calendar year, it also carries the spiritual meaning of cleansing and offering thanks for the year’s protection from fire.
The Akiba Fire Festival, performed in the crisp winter air, is one of Japan’s most impressive fire festivals, leaving a profound impression on observers through the beauty and solemnity of the flames.
⛩️ The History of Akiba Shrine and Enshū Traditions
The History of Akihasan Hongū Akiba Shrine
The history of Akiba Shrine is ancient and deeply connected to the Enshū region’s past.
(1) Founding and Shinto-Buddhist Fusion (Shinbutsu Shūgō)
- Founding: According to shrine records, the shrine was first established around 1,300 years ago in 709 AD.
- The Period of Fusion: Until the Edo period (1603-1868), a Buddhist temple called Akiba-dera was located within the shrine grounds. This was a form of Shinbutsu Shūgō (the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism). The spiritual protection against fire was administered by the temple, which became a thriving center of the Akiba faith.
- During this era, the deity was worshiped as Akiba Gongen (a manifestation of Buddha).
(2) Separation of Religions and Reconstruction
- Separation Edict: The Meiji government issued a decree separating Shinto and Buddhism, causing the temple (Akiba-dera) to move down to the mountain base, leaving the purely Shinto shrine, Akihasan Hongū Akiba Shrine, on the summit.
- Fire and Rebuilding: The shrine has suffered several fires, notably a major loss in 1986, when the main hall and sanctuary burned down.
- Current Structures: Ten years after the fire, the majestic buildings were completely rebuilt in 1996, constructed entirely of Japanese cypress. The current structures, though new, reinforce the ancient and solemn atmosphere of the rituals.
Main Traditional Events in Hamamatsu City (Enshū Region)
Hamamatsu City, where the shrine is located, is a warm region facing the Enshū Sea. However, the mountainous areas (like Tenryu-ku) preserve ancient, deep-rooted festivals.
| Festival / Tradition | Season | Key Features | Region |
| Hamamatsu Festival (Hamamatsu Matsuri) | May 3-5 | Famous for kite-flying battles and pulling elaborate palace floats (goten-yatai). A large, boisterous urban festival celebrating the birth of children. | Central Hamamatsu City |
| Enshū Mechanical Fireworks (Karakuri Hanabi) | Summer | Display fireworks with mechanisms that use gunpowder to make figures jump out or move. Preserves traditional pyrotechnic techniques. | Various parts of Enshū |
| Kashima Fireworks (Kashima no Hanabi) | Late July | Large-scale fireworks display over the Futamata River, known for its intricate star mines and set-piece fireworks. | Tenryū-ku, Hamamatsu |
| Enshū Great Nenbutsu (Enshū Dai Nenbutsu) | July 13-15 (Obon) | A summer Buddhist ritual said to have begun to mourn the spirits of warriors killed in the Battle of Mikatagahara. Participants march and dance to the beat of drums and gongs. | Hamamatsu suburbs |
💡 The Unique Place of the Akiba Fire Festival
In contrast to the lively and celebratory nature of the Hamamatsu Festival, the Akiba Fire Festival is a profoundly solemn and mystical ritual rooted in mountain faith. It is a precious tradition that vividly reflects the Japanese spirit of overcoming the threat of fire through deep reverence for the divine.
📅 Clarification on the Date
The main event, the “Three Dances,” takes place on the night of December 16th, after the sacred ceremonies begin on the 15th.
| Date | Time | Event Name | Summary |
| Dec 15 | 2:30 PM– | Miare-sai | Solemn preparation ritual for the festival. |
| Dec 16 | 1:30 PM– | Reitai-sai | The annual grand ritual, giving thanks and praying for national peace. |
| Dec 16 | 10:00 PM– | Fire Festival (Hi Matsuri) | The climax: where the “Three Dances of Bow, Sword, and Fire” are dedicated. |
