murmurNakanojo Torioi Matsuri (Bird-Chasing Festival)
Nakanojo Town · Isemiya Shrine and the streets of central Nakanojo
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Nakanojo Tourism Association · Last checked: Oct 11, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- Wed, Jan 14, 2026 （Ended） Confirmed from the official annual schedule and Jomo Shimbun’s notice for that year
- 2027
- Dates have not been announced yet. Please check the official website.
- Usual timing
- Usually mid January
- How the date is set
- Every year on January 14
- Venue
- Isemiya Shrine and the streets of central Nakanojo
- City
- Nakanojo Town, Gunma
About
On January 14 each year, the drums come out in central Nakanojo. The festival is said to have begun to chase off birds and animals that damage the fields, pray for a good harvest of rice, wheat, millet and beans, and protect the town and its households from misfortune. After a rite at Isemiya Shrine, the group parades through the streets pounding drums and chanting "Oi-mose, oi-mose," calling on everyone to chase away the birds of Todo. A favorite moment is the mikan toss, when people in an unlucky year and local shops throw mandarin oranges to cast off bad luck and pray for good business, filling the winter streets with noise and cheer.
Sources
- OfficialNakanojo Tourism Association nakanojo-kanko.jp
- Date checkJomo Shimbun www.jomo-news.co.jp
Last checked: Oct 11, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.
Other events this month
On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map
murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.