Aichi Omanto

Aichi no Omanto: A Living Tradition of Decorated Horse Dedication

In the Owari and western Mikawa regions of Aichi Prefecture, a spectacular folk tradition known as Omanto (also called Uma no Tō, meaning "Horse Tower") has been passed down through generations. This vibrant festival custom involves adorning horses with elaborate ornamental trappings—including sacred gohei paper streamers, decorative saddles fitted with bells, and colorful artificial flowers—before dedicating them to local shrines and temples. Selected in 2004 as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring measures for documentation and preservation, Aichi no Omanto represents one of Japan's most dynamic and visually stunning equestrian festival traditions.

Historical Background

Although the exact origins of Omanto remain unclear, historical records suggest that the tradition took its current form between the late medieval and early modern periods—roughly the late 15th to early 17th centuries. The practice is deeply rooted in the agricultural communities of Owari and western Mikawa, where farmers offered decorated horses to their tutelary deities as prayers for rain and thanksgiving for bountiful harvests.

The Mikawa region of Aichi was historically a prominent horse-breeding area. The indigenous Mikawa horse breed has ancient roots, and records show that during the Battle of Nagashino in 1575, Tokugawa Ieyasu's forces used exclusively Mikawa-bred horses. Selecting the finest horse, decorating it lavishly, and presenting it as a sacred offering to a shrine was considered a great honor for the community.

Historically, the grandest form of the festival was called Gasshuku (also Gasshoku or Kashiku), in which dozens of villages would unite to present horses collectively at a major shrine or temple. These large-scale joint festivals maintained strict protocols and formalities. Notable historical examples include the May 5th Horse Tower at Atsuta Shrine, the May 18th observance at Ōsu Kannon, and the September 9th festival at Sanage Shrine. While such large-scale multi-village gatherings have largely ceased, the spirit of this cooperative tradition lives on in many local festivals throughout the region.

Why Omanto Was Designated a Folk Cultural Property

On February 6, 2004, the Agency for Cultural Affairs selected Aichi no Omanto as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring documentation and preservation. This designation recognized the tradition's exceptional cultural value on several grounds.

Omanto represents a rare surviving example of a horse-centered festival custom that was once widespread across the Owari and western Mikawa plains. Unlike portable shrines (mikoshi) or festival floats (dashi), the use of horses allowed processions to traverse narrow roads and rough terrain, reaching every corner of a village and enabling long-distance travel between communities. This unique characteristic fostered the development of inter-village cooperative festival formats that reflect the deep social bonds of rural Japanese communities.

The tradition also preserves valuable aspects of Japan's agricultural folk religion, including rain-making rituals, harvest thanksgiving ceremonies, and the veneration of horses as sacred intermediaries between humans and deities. The elaborate protocols governing processions, formal greetings between groups, and shrine dedication ceremonies provide rare insights into the ceremonial life of pre-modern farming communities.

Highlights and Attractions

The Decorated Horses

The centerpiece of any Omanto festival is the magnificently adorned horse. Each horse bears a dashi (standard or sacred emblem) on its back—a tall marker made of wooden slats and gohei paper streamers that serves as a dwelling place for the deity. The horse's body is draped with ornate trappings, including a suzukura (bell-fitted saddle) that produces a distinctive jingling sound as the animal moves. Artificial flowers, colorful fabric, and other decorations complete the resplendent appearance. Each district's dashi design is unique and serves as a proud symbol of local identity.

The Keigo Festival in Nagakute

The city of Nagakute preserves one of the most authentic forms of Omanto, known as the Keigo (Escort) Festival. Designated as an Aichi Prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property, the festival features a procession of decorated horses accompanied by martial arts performers (bō no te) wielding wooden staffs and a matchlock gun squad. The festival day begins with a purification ceremony at dawn, followed by the formation of a grand procession from the horse stable. As participants chant "Essai, Hossai!" the procession winds through the district, periodically pausing for dramatic volleys of matchlock fire. Three districts—Yazako, Nagakute, and Kamigō—each hold their own version, maintaining customs that evoke the area's famous Battle of Nagakute in 1584.

The Takahama Omanto Festival

In the city of Takahama, the Omanto tradition takes a thrillingly athletic form. Young men wearing happi festival coats and tabi shoes leap onto galloping horses within a circular arena made of log fencing, sprinting alongside the animals in a display of courage and athleticism called kake-uma (running horse). Held annually on the first weekend of October at Kasuga Shrine, this two-day event draws approximately 40,000 spectators. The festival begins with the Ryūgū-sai, a Shinto ceremony honoring the sea deity and praying for rain, reflecting the tradition's deep connection to water worship. The procession of nearly 700 participants and over 40 horses through the streets of Takahama—a town famous for its traditional onigawara roof-tile craftsmanship—creates an unforgettable atmosphere.

Omanto Across the Region

Throughout the Owari and Mikawa areas, numerous other communities maintain their own Omanto traditions. In Higashiura Town in Chita County, festivals are held at multiple shrines including Muraki Shrine and Irumi Shrine from September through October. In Nishio City, the festival at Nakahata Hachiman Shrine features young men grappling with galloping horses in a circular arena. Each locality brings its own unique customs, music, and decorative styles, making a tour of the region's Omanto festivals a richly varied cultural experience.

Visitor Information

Omanto festivals are held at various locations across Aichi Prefecture, primarily during the autumn months from September through November. The most prominent festivals include the Takahama Omanto Festival (first weekend of October), the Nagakute Keigo Festivals (typically around Sports Day in October or early November), and the Higashiura Omanto festivals (September through October). As specific dates vary each year, visitors are advised to confirm schedules with local tourism associations before planning their trip.

Most festival venues are accessible by train from Nagoya. The Takahama Omanto Festival at Kasuga Shrine is about a 10-minute walk from Mikawa-Takahama Station on the Meitetsu Mikawa Line. The Nagakute Keigo Festivals can be reached via the Linimo line. Higashiura's festivals are accessible from various stations on the JR Taketoyo Line. Admission to all Omanto festivals is free, and visitors are welcome to watch from the sidelines, though caution is advised during matchlock firing demonstrations and horse-running events.

Surrounding Attractions

Visitors to the Omanto festivals can combine their experience with exploration of the rich cultural landscape of Aichi Prefecture. In the Takahama area, the Kawara Museum showcases the region's celebrated roof-tile craftsmanship, while the Ōyama Ryokuchi park offers panoramic views and cherry blossoms in spring. Nagakute is home to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology as well as the popular Aichi Expo Memorial Park (Moricoro Park). The nearby city of Chiryu preserves its heritage as a former post town on the old Tōkaidō highway, where horse markets once flourished. For those interested in Japan's martial history, the Nagakute Battlefield site commemorates the 1584 battle between Tokugawa and Toyotomi forces.