Towada City Autumn Festival and Towada Hayashi
The Towada City Autumn Festival traces its origins back to the late Edo period during the development of the Sanbongi Plain. It began as the autumn festival of the Sanbongi Inari Shrine. In 1949 (Showa 24), the Towada Chamber of Commerce consolidated various harvest festivals held throughout the region and started organizing the event to coincide with the shrine’s annual grand festival, held from September 9 to 11.
Later, the Towada City Tourism Association took over as the main organizer. From 1971 (Showa 46), the Towada Junior Chamber hosted the event, and on the middle day of the festival, a special “Festival Plaza” was also introduced. In 1974 (Showa 49), nighttime parade operations of floats (called dashi) began as part of this Festival Plaza.
Since 1993 (Heisei 5), the festival has been held annually on the second Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of September. It is now a beloved symbol of autumn in Towada City. During the event, the streets are filled with elaborately decorated floats and dynamic taiko drums, impressing spectators with powerful drum performances and vibrant sound.
To further enhance the appeal of the festival, “Towada Hayashi” was created. Previously, the festival lacked a unified hayashi (traditional festival music), making it difficult to judge competitions or hold joint performances. To address this, the Towada City Tourism Association commissioned the Towada Junior Chamber to create and promote a standardized version, which was completed in 2006 (Heisei 18).
The composition was entrusted to the Japan Folk Performing Arts Research and Preservation Society in Aomori City, known for its deep knowledge of local festivals across Aomori Prefecture and its neutral, community-based approach.
Towada Hayashi consists of three styles: “Kenkadaiko” (fighting drums), “Susumidaiko” (marching drums), and “Yasumidaiko” (resting drums). These styles are used depending on the scene—whether during standby, parade, or competitive performances. With such thoughtful development, the Towada City Autumn Festival continues to evolve into a more unified, powerful, and visually stunning traditional celebration.
