Spring Sekisai Ceremony at Taku Confucian Shrine

About

Taku Seibyo, a shrine to Confucius built in 1708, holds this ceremony each spring and autumn to thank Confucius and his leading disciples with offerings. It has continued for more than 300 years since the shrine was founded and is an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Saga Prefecture. The rite is the Sekisai, a simplified form of the sacrificial Sekiten, and the offerings range from sweet sake, ginkgo nuts, chestnuts, water dropwort and bamboo shoots to pheasant, rice and mochi. The mayor serves as chief offerer; officiants wear Ming-dynasty robes and the gagaku musicians traditional eboshi caps and hitatare, lending the ceremony a quiet dignity. You can also see the Sekisai Dance, based on the rites of Qufu, where Confucius was born, along with waist-drum performances and a Chinese-style lion dance.

Sources

• OfficialTaku City www.city.taku.lg.jp
• OfficialKoshi no Sato Foundation www.ko-sinosato.com

Last checked: Oct 10, 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

• Ogi Harusame Festival
• Arita Ceramics Fair