{
  "id": 5024892,
  "title": "Japan's Kashima shrine launches once-every-12-yrs Mifune festival with 100-boat flotilla",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/japans-kashima-shrine-launches-once-every-12-yrs-mifune-festival-with",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T05:36:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260902/p2a/00m/0na/020000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kashima Jingu shrine in northeastern Japan inaugurated the Mifune Matsuri festival, a water procession held once every 12 years, on September 2nd. A ceremonial boat carrying the shrine deity traversed Lake Kitaura and other waterways, flanked by approximately 100 vessels. The Mifune Matsuri, a traditional event associated with the Year of the Horse, dates back roughly 2,000 years, as evidenced by the ancient Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki records compiled during the Nara period (710-784 AD). The festival's origins are recorded in these historical documents. On the morning of September 2nd, a mikoshi portable shrine bearing the deity departed from Kashima Jingu. Guided by horse-mounted riders clad in jinbaori sleeveless battle surcoats, around 2,500 participants donned traditional attire like hitatare robes and chihaya garments, parading through the city. The mikoshi subsequently embarked on a water journey to Katori Jingu shrine in Katori, Chiba Prefecture, aboard a ceremonial boat adorned with a dragon head at its bow. This procession commenced from the Ichino Torii waterside shrine gate on the Wani River, crafting a vivid tableau reminiscent of historical events.",
  "summary": "KASHIMA, Ibaraki -- Kashima Jingu shrine in this east Japan city launched its Mifune Matsuri festival water procession on Sept. 2, with a ceremonial b",
  "key_points": [
    "Kashima Jingu shrine inaugurated Mifune Matsuri festival on September 2nd",
    "100-boat flotilla accompanied ceremonial deity boat on Lake Kitaura",
    "Festival origins traced to 2,000-year-old Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki records"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}