Kishiwada Danjiri Festival facts for kids

The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival (岸和田だんじり祭り) is a famous and exciting event held every year in Kishiwada, a city in southern Osaka, Japan. People celebrate this festival to wish for a great harvest of crops. While there are other Danjiri festivals in western Japan, the one in Kishiwada is the biggest and most well-known. During the festival, people pull large, decorated wooden floats called Danjiri. They run, walk, and play traditional music. The festival takes place on the Saturday and Sunday just before a public holiday in September.

Festival Foods

The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival has its own special foods. Many families invite their relatives and friends to share meals. They often prepare dishes like blue crabs, Kantoudaki, and Kurumimochi.

Blue Crabs

People in Kishiwada enjoy eating blue swimming crabs. These crabs are caught in the sea near Senshu, which is in southern Osaka. The best time to catch these crabs is around the same time as the festival. This is why eating them became a tradition during the Danjiri Festival.

Kantoudaki

Kantoudaki is a popular Japanese dish. It includes many different ingredients cooked together in a large pot. You might find eggs, radishes, potatoes, octopus, and beef in a seasoned fish broth. It is easy to make a lot of Kantoudaki at once. This makes it a perfect dish for many people to share during the festival.

Kurumimochi

Kurumimochi is a sweet treat. It is a type of rice cake covered with ground walnuts. This is a local dessert from Osaka. People eat Kurumimochi to celebrate and wish for a big harvest.

How the Festival Works

Different neighborhood groups help organize the Kishiwada Danjiri Festival. Each town has its own Danjiri association. There are also groups for women and children. Everyone works together to make the festival a success.

Festival Leaders

The festival has important roles for its leaders. The main leader of a town's festival group is called the Tyoukaichou (町会長). This person has a very important job. They ride at the front of the Danjiri float, guiding it through the streets.

Another important leader is the Eikousekininnsha (曳行責任者). This person is also a high-ranking leader. They help guide the Danjiri float and make sure everything goes smoothly. These leaders work hard to keep the festival safe and fun for everyone.