This year another Echizen Washi Festival was held from May 3rd to the 5th. It’s an over 1,000 year old festival which celebrates the legend of a goddess of washi who blessed the skills of paper artistry to man.
Wearing traditional white outfits and heading toward the village, men climb down from the mountain peak in Echizen carrying with them the statue representing the goddess known as Kawakami Gozen at the beginning of the festivities. On the following day (the 4th) of festivities begin early in the morning, and even the National Printing Bureau observes the day. (At the beginning of the Meiji era, the Japanese bill was made using exclusively paper from Echizen Washi. The goddess is also enshrined in the National Printing Bureau.)
The 5th day is the climax, as 5 townships from the inner town area march to five different shrines with the goddess’ statue. With lively voices, they march enthusiastically the entire festival, singing Matsuzaka (Japanese festivals, depending on their location and their purpose have various and select folksongs that are sung in the festivities—Matsuzaka is the title of one of such folksong). The festival’s closing events happen at around 10 o’clock at night.
Next year will be the special festival of the Kawakami goddess (this one is held just once every 33 years, being able to experience it twice in one lifetime is, in itself, quite amazing). In this special festival, the doors of the Kawakami goddess’ enshrinement are opened for the public to see inside.
This goddess’ shrine is an intangible, important property of Fukui Prefecture—it is held within Okamoto Shrine. It is noted for the beautiful and complicated construction of its roof.
