Summer cool - Nouryou

An annual event where people enjoy the cool evening air along the river or on boats. The opening of the Sumida River in Tokyo takes place on the last Saturday in July and has become a colorful and famous event, but before the Meiji period, the three-month period from May 28th to August 28th of the lunar calendar was used as a period for enjoying the cool evening air along the Sumida River, and the opening of the river was held in Ryogoku on the first day of that period, as can be seen in Edo Meisho Zue and Toto Saijiki. Originally, fireworks were just a pastime, but teahouses and boat lodges began competing to buy fireworks from fireworks makers such as Tamaya and Kagiya to liven things up, and the fireworks display became the main attraction. Currently, the event is sponsored by the Sumida River Fireworks Display Executive Committee.

In Kyoto, the summer cool-down has been held since ancient times at Shijo-gawara, from June 7th of the lunar calendar until the night of the 18th, including the Gion Festival on the 14th. Although it is called the summer cool-down, it is clearly believed to have been a period of abstinence for the Gion Festival. June is a time when rice fields must be replenished with water and pests must be driven away. The Gion Festival and Tenno Festival in various regions are also events to drive away evil spirits, and a festival of great purification is held on the last day of June. In Hita City, Oita Prefecture, June 1st is also called the River Opening, and fireworks are set off and a Mantou (lanterns) are floated down the river. In Sendai and Fukushima, June 1st is called the River Entry, and in Nagashima, Kagoshima Prefecture, this day is called the River Festival. It can be seen that the River Festival and River Entry were the first day of purification in the June abstinence.

It is possible to roughly trace how urban river openings developed from these rural river festivals and evolved into events centered around fireworks displays. Other events that do not use the name "kawabiraki" (river openings) can also be said to have developed from the same purpose, such as the Tama River fireworks display, the Lake Kawaguchi Festival, the Lake Ashi Festival, and the beach and waterfall openings in various regions. Setting off fireworks by the waterside and holding summer festivals to attract people has become a nationwide trend, and there are also many examples of floating lanterns and manto nagashi (floating lanterns) in conjunction with the sending off of the spirits of the dead during the Bon Festival.

[Tahara Hisashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

河畔や船上で夕涼みをする年中行事。東京・隅田(すみだ)川の川開きは7月最終の土曜日に行われ、華やかな名物行事となっているが、明治以前には旧暦5月28日から8月28日までの3か月間を隅田川の夕涼みの期間として、その初日に両国で川開きが行われたことが、『江戸名所図会』や『東都歳事記』にみえる。もとは手慰み程度に花火をあげていたが、茶屋、船宿が景気づけのため、玉屋、鍵(かぎ)屋などの花火師を競って買うようになり、花火大会が呼び物になった。現在は隅田川花火大会実行委員会の主催行事になった。

　京都でも古くから四条河原で納涼が行われ、旧暦6月7日から、14日の祇園会(ぎおんえ)を挟んで18日夜まで開かれた。納涼とはいうが、明らかに祇園祭の物忌みの期間であったと思われる。6月は稲田に十分水を補わなければならず、また害虫を追い払わねばならないときである。各地の祇園祭、天王祭も悪霊を払う行事であり、6月晦日(みそか)には大祓(おおはらい)の祭りも行われる。大分県日田(ひた)市などでも6月1日を川開きとよんで、花火をあげ、万灯流しの行事をする。仙台や福島では6月1日を川入りとよび、鹿児島県長島などではこの日を川祭りといっている。川祭り、川入りは、6月の物忌みに潔斎をする最初の日であったことがうかがわれる。

　都会の川開きも、これらの農村の川祭りから発展して、花火大会を中心とする行事にまで変化していったことは、おおよそ筋道をたどることが可能である。そのほか川開きの名称を用いないものも、多摩川の花火大会、河口湖の湖上祭、芦(あし)ノ湖の湖水祭、各地の海開き・滝開きなど、みな同じ趣旨から発展した行事ということができる。水辺で花火をあげて納涼大会を催し、人を集めることは全国的な流行となり、また盆の精霊(しょうりょう)送りと結び付けて灯籠(とうろう)流し、万灯流しを行う例も多くなっている。

［田原　久］

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