Foxes (Kitsune) are a common subject of Japanese myth and folklore. Foxes are thought to be able to take human form. In myth, they sometimes possess humans or shapeshift. This is often for the purpose of seducing humans. There are several Japanese myths in which young men or women unknowingly marry a fox. In other myths, foxes marry each other. Such is the tale of the Fox Wedding (kitsune no yomeiri).
Foxes are thought to be the messengers of the Gods. The marriage of foxes is considered a good omen. The tale of the Fox Wedding is recreated at various festivals each year throughout Japan. Foxes were used to live at Mt. Kirinyama and the local people heard voices of them every night.Also, according to the legend, there are many stories about fox fire; fox set fire every night and suddenly put out the fire when human try to approach to the fire.
This is called as "wedding ceremony of fox".
People said, "The better cultivation of the year will be, the more people saw the fox fire.Long time ago, wedding in this town was carried out in the night by holding lanterns.
It is said that today's fox wedding ceremony was born by mixing the customs of the town and the legend of the fox fire.
In Japan, November 3 is National Culture Day. I found festival at the Kirinyama Koen (park) and Tsugawa, Aga-machi (road) in Kudamatsu. Fox Wedding Festival, which is a celebration for a successful rice season. Food and game vendors lined the narrow streets of Kudamatsu's small town of Hanaoka. There was a bunch of festivities, including a parade of omikoshi hand-carried shrines (which I was blessed to be a part of), Japan boy scout performances, a kid marching band, handmade floats, and finally, the Fox Bride and Fox Groom, signifying good fortune. Every year, two people are picked in secret, and their identity is kept hidden from the public throughout the festival. Bride and bridegroom who will marry within the year make up like fox face and parade in the town.
Around 18:00, the couple departs Sumiyoshi Jinja (shrine) and walk 2km distance to Kirinyama Koen (park).
It is like fairy tale.
This photo was taken off Kudamatsu. Actually the term Kitsune no Yomeiri refers to the occurrence of rain occurring during brilliant sunshine, which is said to occur a fox bride is going through the woods to the house of her fox groom. Sometimes during festival occasions, shrines would stage the “fox wedding” as well, and that is when we would get to see the interesting couple wearing the fox mask.
Unique ceremony will be held in this festival; departure of bride, the parade with traditional songs, cute small fox (children) dance, traditional wedding ceremony, and parade to Mt. Kirinyama by boat lit up the lantern.
These ceremonies is just like story telling of fox wedding that can only be seen here in Aga.
The ceremony carried out in the night is so mysterious and takes the audience to the world of fantasy.