著者

嘉瀬井 恵子 Kasei Keiko

出版者

金沢大学環日本海域環境研究センター

雑誌

日本海域研究 = Bulletin of the Japan Sea Research Institute, Kanazawa University (ISSN:13477889)

巻号頁・発行日

no.49, pp.39-47, 2018

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When the Second World War ended in 1945, Japan was in a dire economic condition and the country faced years of recovery. In this context, a festival in Suzu city in the Okunoto area of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture was deemed wasteful by the local authorities. As such, the central government ordered the residents to economize and refrain where possible when holding "kiriko" festivals. "Kiriko" refers to a festival centered on extravagant, brightly lit and very colorful floats that are all lined up as part of a long parade procession. This study looked at how did the residents responded to the requested simplification of the "kiriko" festivals as set out by the authorities. It also noted the materials and methods that were utilized in order to cut the high costs of holding such festivals. For example, the residents were told by the authorities, "Do not make lots of festive dishes (gottuo)", "Invite only your relatives to the kiriko festival", and "Do not distribute sekihan [celebratory red rice]". However, this researcher learned the following things after interviewing the city's older residents. Most notably, the residents did not think that the "kiriko" festival is wasteful. In fact, at the time, the residents disobeyed the order of self restraint vis a vis their "kiriko" festival. The residents also quietly rebelled against the various prohibition orders placed on the festival. From the interviews, the sentiment was evident that the only enjoyment for residents at a very difficult time after the war was a festival. Today, the stories surrounding the "kiriko" festival's restrictions and prohibitions in the years immediately after World War Two have become an opportunity for residents to appreciate more their region and traditions.