Annual events as typical examples of dynamic space use
Kawagoe Festival is the annual festival of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, held on the third Sunday of October and the day before. It is one of the Kanto region’s leading festivals, boasting a tradition of about 370 years, inheriting the tradition of the Edo “Tenka Matsuri” festival. It is designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and a Nationally Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. This festival is not merely a religious event or a tourist event, but also a typical example of “dynamic space utilization” where the temporal rhythms of urban space and civic life intersect.
The formation of festive spaces and the transformation of urban structure
During the festival, the city changes its everyday traffic flow and temporarily transforms into a festive space. Large-scale traffic restrictions are implemented in the old city, particularly in the “kurazukuri streets,” to ensure that there are clear routes for the floats to parade. This temporary transformation of urban functions is also an interesting phenomenon from a geographical perspective.
The rhythm of time and space brought about by the floats
One of the highlights of the Kawagoe Festival is the “Hikikkawase” (a joint performance of music and dance when two floats meet), where floats from each neighborhood compete against each other. This movement creates different flows of people and changes in the sounds of the city at different times, switching it into a festive mode. This extraordinary transformation of the city’s rhythm creates a unique tempo for the flow of time.
Reaffirming regional identity
The decorations of the floats, the music, the costumes, and so on that appear in festivals reflect the history and pride of each region. By blending these cultural elements into the urban space, it provides participants and spectators with a “spatial experience as a memory,” and becomes a place to reaffirm regional identity.
Issues facing festivals today
In recent years, due to an increase in tourists and strengthened safety measures, adjustments have been required to the routes and time allocations of the floats. How to maintain harmony between commerce and culture, tourism demand and local beliefs and traditions will likely be an important issue going forward.
