Iwate World Heritage Site: Spinning Hiraizumi's 900-year Tradition into the Future Crowdfunding challenge for the continuation of the "Spring Fujiwara Festival

The "Procession of Prince Minamoto no Yoshitsune Eastward Journey" of the Fujiwara Festival, a springtime tradition in Tohoku, may be interrupted. may cease to exist.

2025.03.26 12:00

一般社団法人平泉観光協会、世界と平泉株式会社

Hiraizumi Tourism Association, World and Hiraizumi Co. (Head office: Hiraizumi-machi, Nishi-Iwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture; Chairman: Rikio Chiba) and Hiraizumi's tourism and community development company, Sekai to Hiraizumi Co. To make as many people as possible aware of this painful reality, we are launching a crowdfunding campaign on CAMPFIRE on Friday, March 28, 2025.

藤原まつり存続応援プロジェクト

Fujiwara Festival Survival Support Project

Project URL: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/833946/view

The Fujiwara Festival in Hiraizumi is a colorful and glamorous event in the spring in Tohoku. The magnificent historical picture scroll of the procession of Prince Minamoto no Yoshitsune eastward has attracted many people. However, its survival is now facing a crisis. The operating costs continue to increase, and subsidies and sponsorships are decreasing. Hiraizumi's most important festival, the one that carries the beautiful traditions of Hiraizumi into the present, is a dying light. The festival is now facing a crisis of survival.

What is the Spring Fujiwara Festival?

The Fujiwara Festival is held every year in spring and fall. The Spring Fujiwara Festival, held from May 1 to 5, is especially famous for its grandeur.

On the third day of the festival, the "Minamoto no Yoshitsune Parade" is held, following the legend that when Yoshitsune and his followers arrived in Hiraizumi to escape the pursuit of his brother Minamoto no Yoritomo, they were welcomed by Fujiwara no Hidehira and local people. 91 people in total parade from Motsu-ji to Chuson-ji in a grand Heian picture scroll.

Since 1973, the role of Lord Yoshitsune has been played by young actors, celebrities, and other male entertainers, dramatically increasing the popularity and visibility of the procession eastward. In 2005, in particular, the participation of Hideaki Takizawa, who was starring in the NHK historical drama "Yoshitsune" being broadcast at the time, became a major topic of conversation and attracted a record number of tourists.

This year, 2025, the role of Lord Yoshitsune will be played by "Takumi Ozaki," a member of the 11-member male idol group "INI," which was formed in the survival audition program "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SEASON 2.

To keep the Spring Fujiwara Festival alive.

The Spring Fujiwara Festival is truly a Hiraizumi-wide festival. In particular, the "Minamoto no Yoshitsune Parade" attracts many spectators from within and outside of the prefecture. This small town with a population of 6,700 becomes extremely crowded.

In fact, more than 1,000 people from inside and outside the town work behind the scenes to ensure the safety of everyone who enjoys the festival.

It is a matter of course that festivals are accident-free. Safety" is not something people are aware of until an accident actually occurs. However, on this scale, if an accident were to occur, a catastrophe would be unavoidable, and a great deal of labor and a huge financial burden is placed on us to ensure that everyone can enjoy the festival with peace of mind.

There is no admission fee for the procession of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, and there are no seats on the piers or other paid spectator seats. It is a festival that everyone can enjoy equally. However, this means that the festival's operating expenses, which increase year by year, are covered only by subsidies and sponsorships, which are decreasing year by year. Moreover, operating expenses have doubled in the past 10 years.

Unfortunately, this system has already failed for several years. The reality and truth is that it was somehow supported by the volunteer spirit and spirit of the people involved. However, that is no longer the case.

The procession of Minamoto no Yoshitsune is now a dying light.

However, we sincerely hope that we can somehow preserve the culture of Hiraizumi and this festival that colors the spring in Tohoku for future generations. Together with you, we would like to turn this dying light into a lamp that will remain lit for 100 years to come.

藤原まつりは風前の灯

Fujiwara Festival is a light before the wind

About Returns

It is not known to the public, but the costume of the leading role of "Lord Yoshitsune" in the procession of Lord Minamoto Yoshitsune's eastward ascent is actually different every year! Izutsu Kikaku in Kyoto selects the costumes to match the image of the talents.

For this crowdfunding campaign, we asked for a special favor and made "original goods with the costume of Lord Yoshitsune" and will offer it as a return. All of the goods are completely original and can only be obtained by those who support us on CAMPFIRE.

リターンのお米