The Rice Ear Festival - The Fox's Wedding

Held every November 3rd at the Hoshouji Temple in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, it's said that participating in this festival brings good marital fortune. The highlight of the festival is the "Fox's Wedding" procession, where participants dressed as foxes parade through the town. The procession is led by a rickshaw carrying a bride and groom, both wearing white fox masks, followed by relatives in traditional formal kimono, hairstylists, and attendants. The true identities of the bride and groom are kept a secret even from the staff, adding an element of mystery and intrigue to the event.

The history of the festival traces back to an old, mysterious tale linked to the Hoshouji Temple. During the Edo period, the temple's priest lost his prayer beads, which were then returned by a pair of foxes. After their death, the priest honored the foxes with a grand burial. From then on, it's been said that visiting the temple would help find lost or sought-after items. This legend transformed into the Fox's Wedding procession we see today, passed down through the generations.

The wedding procession starts at the Hanaoka Fukutoku Inari Shrine within the temple grounds and slowly moves along the old street, culminating at the Suo-Hanaoka train station. At the station, participants dance around the bride and groom to the Inari tune before heading back to the Hoshouji Temple. After the procession concludes, there's a ceremonial ritual at the nearby Hanaoka Community Center, which includes a mochi (rice cake) tossing event. All these ceremonies are open for public viewing.