Chagu Chagu Umakko Festivalチャグチャグ馬コ

The Chagu Chagu Umakko Festival is held every year on the second Saturday of June in Iwate Prefecture. Originally celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar, the festival date was changed to June 15 in 1958 to avoid overlapping with the busy farming season. Since 2001, it has followed its current schedule to allow more horses to participate and more spectators to attend.

The festival’s main purpose is to show gratitude to the horses used in agriculture by decorating them once a year and honoring their hard work. Many of the participating horses remain active as working animals, including those used for logging.

The Parade Route and Participants

About 60 farm horses dressed in colorful traditional costumes march approximately 14 kilometers from Onikoshi Sozen Shrine in Takizawa City, adjacent to Morioka, to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine. Along the route, the horses pass through nine designated spots. The sound of about 700 bells attached to their costumes produces the festival’s signature “chagu-chagu” ringing.

Each horse is accompanied by two handlers, one attendant, and one child rider, creating a coordinated and vibrant procession.

Historical Background

Iwate Prefecture has long been known as a center for horse breeding. In the late 16th century, horse-drawn farming techniques were introduced, which influenced the development of a unique style of house called the Nambu Magariya(“bent house”). These houses feature an L-shaped floor plan that includes stables attached at a right angle to the main living area. This reflects the close relationship between people and horses, who lived together as family under one roof.

Origins of the Festival Tradition

The festival’s roots lie in the Tango no Sekku (Boys’ Day) on May 5, which became a rare rest day during the busy farming season. Farmers would visit shrines dedicated to the guardian deity of horses, such as Sozen Shrine and Komagata Shrine, to pray for the health and safety of their horses. These visits became customary and are known as Osozen Mairi (“Pilgrimage to Sozen”).

During these shrine visits, it became popular to dress horses in konida shōzoku—traditional packhorse attire—which is said to be the origin of today’s Chagu Chagu Umakko Festival.

In 1930, Yasuhito, Prince Chichibu, known for his love of horses, visited Iwate Prefecture. After visiting Onikoshi Sozen Shrine, he was presented with a parade of horses at the Shinzen Baba grounds of Morioka Hachimangu Shrine. The event was so well received that from the following year onward, it became customary to march to Morioka Hachimangu after the shrine visit.

Cultural Significance and Recognition

Today, between 60 and 100 horses participate in the approximately five-hour, 14-kilometer procession. Festivals of this type are extremely rare globally. In 1978, the Chagu Chagu Umakko Festival was designated by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property, requiring documentation and preservation efforts.

The festival’s name comes from the “chagu-chagu” sound made by the 700 bells attached to the horses’ costumes. In 1996, this distinctive bell sound was recognized by Japan’s Environment Agency as one of the “100 Soundscapes of Japan,” emphasizing its cultural importance.

• Parade of horses

• Music performances

• Parade of dancers and twirlers

• Official Website (Japanese)