by Amazake (甘酒）, it is like “Sweet Sake”, but non-alcohol, sweet fermented rice drink. In Chichibu, there is a summer festival in July local men are splash the Amazake each other!
1．Ceremony to drive away evil spirits
This is held in Inohana Kumano Shrine, Awakawa Shiroku area. It is about 15 minutes walking from Mitsumineguchi Station on Chichibu Railway line.
This festival has also been registered as a intangible cultural asset of Saitama prefecture.
Amazake festival has two sessions. In the morning, there is a shrine ritual to hold a ceremony to let evil sprits away. After that, in the afternoon, a lot of naked men start to splash the Amazake each other. It looks very strange, but very exciting so a lot of visitors come every time from out of Chichibu and famous as one of the “strange” festivals.
(The above photo is from Chichibu area Omotenashi Tourism Bureau’s facebook page https://www.facebook.com/chichibuomotenashikosya/photos/pcb.1338583576261361/1338582562928129/?type=3&theater)
2. Shrine ritual in the morning
Before the ritual, there is really tough task. That is to make Amazake.
In a big pot, they put water and oat to make congees 4 – 5 times. After cooling down, the congees are moved to much bigger barrels and put rice malt into it. Two staff who are in charge of Amazake in the year keep eye on the barrels to control the temperature overnight.
In the morning session, the shrine priest prays to god for driving away evil spirits, and the Amazake is provided to the shrine as offerings.
After finishing the ceremony, the Amazake is back to the normal barrels and move to the afternoon session, Amazake splashing battle!
3. Amazake Fighting!
It’s time for Amazake battle in the afternoon!
Naked guys start to splash the Amazake each other. All of them get really excited and just keep splashing the Amazake to others!
This keeps going until the Amazake is gone from the barrel. After splashing all Amazake, they move the barrel to catchment and throw it there.
Then the Amazake festival finish.
(The below video is from hgywryt Strange Festival Amazazake Matsuri Saitama Prefecture intangible cultural asset, https://youtu.be/IgVA2uHikU0)
