大迫力のクライマックス…約350年前から伝わる能登町『あばれ祭』勇壮さに見物客驚く「想像超えていた」 (2026年7月6日)

The Abare Festival in Noto Town, Ishikawa Prefecture, kicks off the Noto Kiriko Festival. This year, all town associations participated, and the festival concluded with a spectacular climax. The Abare Festival of Utsutsu, Noto Town, has been passed down for approximately 350 years. It is said to have begun as an expression of gratitude to the gods who cured a plague that was spreading through the town, and it is designated as an intangible folk cultural property of the prefecture. The Kiriko floats soar majestically amidst the flying sparks of fiercely burning torches. Despite suffering significant damage from the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, this "indispensable festival" has continued without cancellation. This year, as in previous years, all 36 town associations in the Utsutsu district participated in the festival. A resident of Otowa Town: "The scenery has changed, but the feelings will never change, so I believe Utsutsu will definitely return to its former self." On the evening of the 4th, the final day of the festival, portable shrines also appeared in addition to the Kiriko floats. At the Abare Festival, it is believed that the more the portable shrine is damaged—by being slammed against the ground or thrown into fire—the more pleased the gods will be. Afterward, the shrine was thrown into the river, marking the festival's climax. Visitors: "I'm amazed by this festival, it's beyond my imagination." "I've never really seen anyone hit a portable shrine before, so that was incredible." According to the town, approximately 30,000 people, more than double the population of Noto Town, gathered for this year's Abare Festival. Here are the upcoming Kiriko festival dates in Noto. Three years after the earthquake, some festivals are gradually returning to their original scale. On July 20th and 21st, the Iida Toroyama Festival will be held in Suzu City, featuring a giant float called Toroyama parading through the town. On July 25th, the Mukoda Fire Festival, one of Japan's three major fire festivals, will be held on Notojima Island in Nanao City. On August 1st, the Ishizaki Lantern Festival will be held in Ishizaki Town, also in Nanao City, where 12-meter-long lanterns will parade through narrow alleys. Also on August 1st, the Hōryū Tanabata Kiriko Festival will be held in Suzu City, featuring a spectacular underwater dance where kiriko floats enter the sea and circle around torches. Furthermore, the Wajima Grand Festival, held annually from August 22nd for four days, with some exceptions, is scheduled to take place in Wajima City, with each of the four towns holding its own festival. On September 10th and 11th, the Takoshima Kiriko Festival will be held in Takoshima Town, a fishing town in Suzu City, featuring a fast-paced kyogen performance by 20-year-olds. Also, the Koiji Fire Festival in Noto Town will not feature torches, but it will be held on July 19th for the first time since the earthquake.