Matsuri and Festivals in Japan

A long time ago, Matsuri were sacred events: their original purpose was to “express gratitude to the spirits, the Kami,” and the word comes from Matsuru 祀る (to deify), meaning “to console the spirits through prayer.” It also refers to a rite derived from Shintoism and Buddhism involving the spirit known as Dochaku-shin (土着神), which has dwelled in a specific land since ancient times.

This tradition originated from a Japanese mythological story called Iwato-gakure (岩戸隠れ): the sun spirit, Amaterasuōkami (天照大神), hid inside a celestial cave called Amano-iwato (天岩戸), angry at her brother Susanoōmikoto (素戔嗚尊) for his cruelty. With the light gone from the land, all the spirits started a big celebration—dancing and singing—to draw Amaterasuōkami out. Thanks to their efforts, she emerged from the cave and light returned to the world. That celebration among the spirits is considered the origin of today’s Matsuri.

In the past, people maintained a close relationship with the Matsuri, showing gratitude to each spirit. However, during the Edo period (1603–1867), the Matsuri shifted from being sacred rituals to joyful events filled with traditional instruments and fireworks, spreading as “popular culture.” In the Meiji era (1868–1912), however, the government banned Matsuri through the Shinbutsu-bunri-rei (神仏分離令) decree, but after World War II, people revived the festival culture.