004.八戸 01.八戸三社大祭
004.Hachinohe01.Hachinohe Sanzya Taisai Festival (Japan)

2021年2月9日

Daigo Ishii (Future-scape Architects)

八戸を訪れるたびに感じるのは、ここはソフトの豊かな町だということ。

Every time I visit Hachinohe, I feel that it is a town rich in intangible factors.

八戸三社大祭の目玉「お通し」。
The highlight of "Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival" is "Otosi".

歴史ある都市ですが、名建築や古い街並は見あたりません。じゃあ、魅力がないかと言えば、ハードに頼らないソフトで活き活きしています。多くの町が、ソフトによる町づくりを模索する中、一部は江戸時代に遡る八戸は、先駆者かもしれません。

夏の「八戸三社大祭」。巨大な山車と行列が、中心部を練り歩く祭の始まりは、江戸時代半ば。天候不順回復と五穀豊穣の御礼がきっかけでしたが、八戸城下に人を呼び寄せ、商業を繁栄させる意図があったようです。明治時代、興業プロモーターの大沢多聞が、盛大な仕掛けをつくり、より華やかになりました。プロデューサー型地域おこしの走りです。

祭の目玉「お通し」。山車は、上下の昇降装置と、前後に倒す折り畳み装置の組合せで、４階ほどの高さに広がります。27組の山車は、町内会の住民による手づくり。毎年つくり替え、半年掛けて製作する組もあります。発泡スチロールと合板を塗料で塗り分け、衣装で飾ります。細工は容易ですが、業者に頼らないとは、コミュニティー力のすごい町。毎年繰り返す祭りがシステムを継承し、町おこしの気風も引き継いでいます。

It has a long history, but there are neither historical buildings nor old streetscapes. So, the town is not attractive? No! It doesn't rely on tangible factors but is lively with intangible factors. While many Japanese towns are groping on town development by intangible factors, Hachinohe may be a pioneer because a part of its intangible factors dates back to 300 years ago.

"Hachinohe Sansha Taisai Festival" held in the summer, which huge floats and processions parade through the downtown, began in 1721 to thank the abundance of grains. It is said that it also had the aim to attract people to Hachinohe town and to flourish commerce. In 1887, Tamon Osawa, an entertainment promoter, added a grander device to revitalize the town. It is the forerunner of a town revitalization project by a producer.

The festival highlight is "Otoshi". The floats expand to a height of about 4 floors by a vertical lifting device and a folding device. The 27 floats are handmade by the residents of the neighborhood association. It is remade every year, and a part of groups takes half a year to produce. Styrene foam and plywood are painted and decorated with costumes. Those are materials easy to elaborate on. But they don't rely on professionals. How great community power the town has! The festival that repeats every year inherits the system and the spirit of town revitalization.