Yamano no Gaku

山野の楽

Yamano no Gaku is a festival which is held every year on September 23 at Yamano Wakahachiman Shrine. Emperor Ojin was deified as hachiman-jin (the tutelary god of warriors), and is said to be enshrined in all the sites dedicated to him. In the year 1244 (Kangen 2), in order to share the tutelary deity of the Usahachiman Shrine in Oita Prefecture, the tutelary god of warriors was also enshrined in the Yamano Wakauhachiman Shrine. This is the beginning of the Yamano no Gaku Festival.
During this festival, the shrine parishioners pray for the well-being of their families as well as a bumper harvest. Visitors to this festival will also be able to see the Gaku Uchi. The Gaku Uchi is a drum dance performed in order to ward off disasters. There are 2 versions of the Gaku Uchi. The Fue Gaku is a performance with flutes in order to pray to the repose of souls. The Uta Gaku is a traditional Japanese prayer song. The performers of the dance are referred to as Gaku Kata. The costumes of the Gaku Kata make the performers look like Kappa, a mythical water-dwelling creature. Hence, this festival is also known as the Kappa Festival.

Address (Japanese)	820-0202　福岡県嘉麻市山野1620 山野若八幡神社
Address	1620 Yamano, Kama City Yamano Wakahachiman Shrine
Telephone Number	0948-57-3154（嘉麻市産業振興課観光PR係）
Contact	Weekdays 0948-57-3176 (Kama City Hall), weekends and holidays 0948-43-1737 (Kama City Ina Tsuki Cultural Contact Folklore Building)
Open	Held every year on September 23rd (Fall Equinox)
Car Park	Parking for 20 cars
Access	5 minute walk from Nishitetsu Bus Yamano bus stop 15 minute drive from Honamihigashi Interchange off of the Yakiyama Bypass
Website	http://www.city.kama.lg.jp/info/prev.asp?fol_id=4134