7. Onabare: Kami

Overview

The Onabare festival is a 300-year-old folk cultural property in Kami, Kochi Prefecture. A portable shrine is paraded through the streets, with dancing and other performances taking place along the way. The highlight is nerikomi, which involves the careful wielding of a long, heavy pole. We see a first-timer and others battling through a tough training process, as they prepare to attempt a remarkable feat of skill and strength that is a key feature of this local matsuri tradition.