Otaue Matsuri “Seppetobe”

(お田植え祭り「せっぺとべ」)

Hioki City, Kagoshima Pref.

Over 400 Years See Kyushu

About the festival

Seppetobe is a 400 year-old local rice-planting festival. Young men covered in mud drinking imo-shochu (distilled sake brewed from potatoes), sing the “seppetobe” songs huddled in the rice fields. They dance to “till the field”, and to “crush the pests”, praying for a massive harvest. “Seppetobe!” in Kagoshima’s local dialect means to “leap as high as you can”. The festival features other dances such as “Kama-odori”—danced by children in the morning, “Komuso-odori” and “Sasa-odori” followed by the parading of a large figure “Deodon” representing the area’s local deity. The festival bares a mystical touch even within its vibrant and exciting atmosphere. 

011_reh_KagoshimaSeppetobeTop_2.jpg

Things to do

1. Drink the shochu and do the Seppetobe!

011_re1-1_KagoshimaSeppetobeToDo1-1_2.jpg

Young men dressed in white, hopping in the mud in sacred fields—Seppetobe is surely an event rarely seen in other areas. They dance and sing to the calls of “seppetobe”, carrying 10m long bamboo rods from one side of the field to the other, while trying not to tip them over. Imo-shochu is passed around, and everybody drinks and celebrates during the festival. Another characteristic that is unique to Kagoshima where Imo-shochu is a famous local product. 

2. Deodon’s mystic presence

011_re2-1_KagoshimaSeppetobeToDo1-1_2.jpg

After the sacred rituals, a large figure about 3m tall called Deodon leads the “Okudari” parade of mikoshi floats down to the sacred rice fields. Deodon quietly watches as the festival continues. 

Information (基本情報)

  • Festival Dates June 2nd, 2019
    Held annually on the first Sunday of June
  • Place Hioki Hachiman Shrine, Yoshitoshi Onimaru Shrine
  • General Participation By prior reservation only
  • International Reception and Info. Unavailable
  • Wi-Fi Unavailable
  • Restrooms Available
  • Other useful Info. Changing rooms are available
  • HP

    http://www.city.hioki.kagoshima.jp

  • SNS

    https://www.facebook.com/日置市役所-767041956737275/

  • Contact Hioki City Office Hiyoshi Branch
    099-292-2111

Rules & Manners(参加のルール&マナー)

Joining the festival on the spot is not permitted

Participants must watch their shochu drinking.
Shooting with drones is prohibited, as of now.

Access Map (アクセスと地図)

Accessing Hioki city
[nearest station]
Ijuin Station (JR Kagoshima Main Line)

Festival Location
5 min walk from Hioki bus stop on Izaku line, from Ijuin to Kaseda, Kagoshima Kotsu Bus

Address: 377-1 Hioki Hiyoshi-cho Hioki City, Kagoshima Pref.

Emiko Izawa
Writer
Born in Shizuoka. I love Sushi, Sake, Shrine, Stationary and Stage!

WHAT'S GOING ON?