Product Description

Date: October 14–15, 2025
Venue: Matsubara Hachiman Shrine, Shirahama-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture
Phone: 079-245-0413

Overview

The Nada Fighting Festival (Nada no Kenka Matsuri) is one of Japan’s most spectacular and intense traditional festivals, held every year on October 14th and 15th in the Nada district of Himeji, located in southern Hyogo Prefecture. “Nada” refers to the area, while “Kenka” translates to “fighting,” a reference to the dramatic clashes that occur during the event.

About the Festival

This festival is held as part of the autumn celebrations at Matsubara Hachiman Shrine. It’s known for its energetic and often fierce performances involving massive floats and portable shrines. While women can provide support during the event, only men are allowed to participate in the main activities.

The festival is composed of seven districts, each with a distinct color. Participants wear headbands (hachimaki) and decorate their homes and neighborhoods in their respective district colors. These communities each prepare a yatai—a 2.5-ton wooden float intricately carved and adorned with embroidered curtains. The yatai is carried on the shoulders of over fifty men, with taiko drummers playing continuously inside—even if the float topples.

In addition to the yatai, three mikoshi (portable shrines) are featured in the event. Each mikoshi is carried by a different age group, and only one district is chosen each year to have the honor of carrying a mikoshi during the second day. The mikoshi are famously crashed into one another in a dramatic, symbolic act meant to show strength and devotion.

Festival Highlights

October 14th:

• All seven districts parade their yatai to Matsubara Hachiman Shrine
• A purification ritual by the Shinto priest is performed for each float
• A performance preview of the next day’s main event

October 15th:

• Full-scale mikoshi clashes take place
• Yatai parade and dramatic competitions among districts
• A visually stunning and spiritually significant event, drawing spectators from all over Japan and abroad

Festival Significance

Nada no Kenka is widely recognized as Japan’s largest and most dynamic “fighting festival.” The tradition of clashing mikoshi and the sheer physical effort involved give this festival a raw energy rarely seen in other traditional events. It is a powerful expression of local pride, unity, and devotion to the shrine deities.