The Sanuki Toyohama Chosa Matsuri さぬき豊浜ちょうさ祭

23 tanks 14 meters long

Originally used to transport taiko (traditional Japanese drums) during festivals, chosa are giant wooden floats 14 meters long and 5 meters high that are over-decorated.

Originally from Kyoto, these behemoths quickly won the hearts of the Japanese. And very quickly, they went beyond the borders of the former capital, so much so that we find them today in many events organized in the four corners of the Japanese Islands.

By turns taiko bearers, carriers of mikoshi (portable Shinto temples), or simple means of locomotion for decorations during parades, chôsa have been a staple of Japanese festivals for over 150 years! And especially in the small town of Kanonji, which organizes a celebration in their honor every October.

To protect Kanonji from the plague, 23 chariots are carried throughout the city to the Toyohama Hachiman shrine, a place of prayer located a stone's throw from the edges of the inner sea of Japan. Therefore, for three days, it is to music that the inhabitants of Kan'onji parade the floats that each district has carefully prepared for the festivities.

To decide between the districts, a Kakikurabe competition even takes place on the festival's last day in the direction of the Ichinomiya shrine.

The only rule to follow? Singing and dancing to highlight the beauty of your chôsa while lifting it as high as possible. An impressive test when you know that the average weight of these beautiful babies is around 2 tons!

Our new activity in Takayama

And representations of all kinds.

But the Sanuki Toyohama Chôsa is not just about tanks! During the festival, other performances are also on the program, such as the famous lion dance or the Funatogyo ceremony.

A means of bringing good fortune to sinners who live off the inland sea, the Funatogyo ceremony is one of the significant events of the matsuri.

On the last day of the festivities, the Toyohama Shrine mikoshi is placed on a small boat. On board, dancers and singers provide the show to the delight of festival-goers. The ship will then travel the coasts of Kanonji to protect the city on land and sea.

To go further: The matsuri, Japanese festivals