Sobue's Mushi Okuri Festival

Sobue no Mushiokuri: A Torchlit Procession to Banish Rice Pests

In the rural landscape of Sobue, a district within the city of Inazawa in Aichi Prefecture, a remarkable folk ritual has been carried out for centuries each summer. Known as "Sobue no Mushiokuri" (祖父江の虫送り), or the "Insect Sending-Off of Sobue," this captivating event sees local residents march through the rice paddies at dusk, brandishing torches and bearing a life-sized straw effigy of a legendary samurai on horseback. With the rhythmic beating of bells and drums echoing across the fields, the procession drives away the harmful insects that threaten the rice crop, culminating in a dramatic blaze as the effigy is committed to flames. It is a living tradition that connects modern-day communities with centuries of agricultural spirituality and the dramatic tales of Japan's warrior past.

Historical Background: The Legend of Saito Sanemori

The origins of Mushiokuri, or "insect sending-off," are deeply intertwined with the tragic story of Saito Betto Sanemori, a warrior of the late Heian period (12th century). Sanemori was a seasoned samurai who served under the Taira clan during the Genpei War, the great conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans that reshaped Japan. In a poignant twist of fate, Sanemori had once saved the life of a young boy named Komao-maru by secretly delivering him to safety — that boy would grow up to become Kiso Yoshinaka, one of the most formidable Minamoto commanders.

In 1183, at the Battle of Shinohara in Kaga Province (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture), the aging Sanemori resolved to make his final stand. Determined to die with the dignity of a young warrior, he dyed his white hair black and donned a magnificent suit of armor bestowed by his lord. During the fierce fighting, his horse stumbled on a rice stubble in the paddies, causing him to fall. Enemy soldiers seized the moment and cut him down. When Yoshinaka examined the fallen warrior's head and washed away the black dye to reveal snow-white hair beneath, he realized he had killed his childhood savior and wept openly before his men.

According to folk belief, Sanemori's resentful spirit — angered by the rice plants that caused his fatal fall — transformed into harmful insects (particularly planthoppers, known as "unka") that devour rice crops. The Mushiokuri ritual thus began as a way to appease his vengeful spirit and drive the pests from the fields. This legend of Sanemori and the associated insect-sending customs spread widely across western Japan, and Sobue's version represents the easternmost extent of this tradition.

Cultural Designation and Significance

Sobue no Mushiokuri holds a dual designation that reflects its cultural importance. In 1984, it was designated as an Aichi Prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property under the broader name "Owari no Mushiokuri Gyoji" (Insect Sending-Off Events of Owari), together with a similar ritual in Yata, Tokoname City. Then in 1991, the Sobue version was further recognized by the national government as a Nationally Selected Intangible Folk Cultural Property — a category reserved for traditions deemed worthy of documentation and preservation at the national level.

The significance of this designation lies in several factors. First, the ritual preserves an authentic agricultural folk practice rooted in the rice-farming culture that has sustained Japanese communities for millennia. Second, it represents the eastern boundary of the "Sanemori-okuri" tradition distributed across western Japan, making it geographically and culturally important for understanding how folk customs spread and evolved. Third, the creation of the life-sized Sanemori effigy from wheat straw, a distinctive feature of this particular tradition, demonstrates remarkable local craftsmanship that has been transmitted across generations.

Highlights and What to See

Visitor Information

Sobue no Mushiokuri is held annually in early July, typically on a Saturday. The event was traditionally conducted on July 10th each year, but the date has been adjusted to accommodate modern schedules. The daytime preparation of the Sanemori effigy and torches takes place at the Makigawa Elementary School gymnasium, and the evening procession winds through the school grounds and surrounding rice paddy areas. The event is held rain or shine (in light rain), but may be postponed to the following day in the event of severe weather.

The Sobue area of Inazawa City is accessible via the Meitetsu Bisai Line. The nearest station is Mori-Kami Station or Yamasa ki Station on the Meitetsu line. From central Nagoya, the journey takes approximately 40 minutes by train. Visitors arriving by car can access the area via National Route 155. As this is a community-run event in a rural residential area, parking is limited, and public transportation is recommended.

For the latest event details and exact dates, visitors are encouraged to contact the Inazawa City Board of Education, Lifelong Learning Division, Cultural Properties Group at 0587-32-1443.

Surrounding Attractions

A visit to Sobue offers much more than the Mushiokuri ritual. The area is renowned nationwide for its spectacular ginkgo trees. With over 11,000 ginkgo trees planted throughout the district — originally as windbreaks against the cold "Ibuki-oroshi" winds from the northwest — Sobue transforms into a golden paradise each late November. The annual Sobue Ginkgo Leaf Festival (Sobue Icho Koyo Matsuri) draws visitors from across the region to admire the brilliant yellow canopy and enjoy local ginkgo nut delicacies. Key viewing spots include the Sobue Ginkgo Park and the grounds of Yusen-ji Temple, which is home to ginkgo trees over 200 years old.

Nearby, the Sario Park Sobue complex along the Kiso River offers outdoor recreation including the Wild Nature Plaza, part of the Kiso Sansen National Government Park, with its expansive sand dunes and river scenery. The Kiso River Sobue Greenery Park features adventure playgrounds and seasonal swimming pools. History enthusiasts may wish to explore Katsuhata Castle ruins, associated with Oda Nobunaga's ancestors, or visit the Owari Okunitama Shrine (Konomiya Shrine) in central Inazawa, famous for its dramatic Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Festival). The Ogisu Takanori Memorial Art Museum in Inazawa showcases works by the locally born painter who gained fame in Paris.