Oni-matsuri 鬼祭り

“demon festival”

A festival designated as an ‘important national treasure’ with a thousand-year history, characterised by dengaku dances and music from the Heian to Muromachi periods. The oni-matsuri in Toyohashi City is part of a traditional ritual performed in the hope of peace, safety and protection, in which evil forces – oni = creatures from Japanese mythology – are to be driven away – see also setsubun. At the height of this festival, the red demon repeatedly provokes fights with Tengu, but is defeated. He flees from the shrine, runs through the town and scatters white grain powder over the visitors to drive away evil. It is said that if you are sprinkled with this powder, you will not fall ill in summer.