Head House (Toya)

Japanese: 頭屋(当屋) - とうや

The person or family in charge of the preparation, execution, and cleanup of shrine festivals and ko events. Tou originally meant the person entrusted with the responsibility of presiding over ceremonies, and the system of toyaku (leaders) was born from the establishment of shift work within a group to equalize the burden of Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies, and the person in charge was called tounin (head person). Furthermore, this was linked to the existence of imiya (shrines) (komoriya, komorido, shojinya) that is indispensable to Shinto ceremonies, and the word touya, which is essential to all festivals, was born.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

神社の祭りや講（こう）行事に際し，その準備，執行，後始末などの世話を担当する人，またその家のこと。頭（とう）とはもと儀式などの主宰の責任をゆだねられることを意味し，神事仏事の諸負担を均等化するべく，集団の中に交代勤務を定めるところから，頭役（とうやく）の制が生じ，その勤務者を頭人（とうにん）とよんだ。さらに神事に欠くことのできない斎屋（いみや）(こもりや，こもり堂，精進屋)の存在と結びついて，あまねく祭りに緊要な〈とうや〉の語を生むにいたった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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