The most powerful monster in Japanese mythology is the Yamata no Orochi. According to the Kojiki, Japan’s oldest book, “Eight heads and eight tails are huge, spanning eight valleys and eight hills, with red eyes like hanging golden lanterns (a lantern-shaped fiery red plant— – Translator’s Note), his body is covered with moss and trees, and his belly is always stained with blood.”

This legend originated from the fact that Susanoo was expelled from Takamagahara and came to Funachiyama in eastern Shimane Prefecture. An old couple who raised eight daughters complained to Susano-o-Ming that the terrifying basilisk came to devour one of their daughters every year, and now only the youngest daughter, Kirida Hime, was left. In order to protect her, Susanoo came up with a clever plan. Place strong liquor outside your home, wait for the drunken basilisk to fall asleep, and then kill it. Susano-o-Ming successfully rescued Kirida-hime and married her.

The Iwami area in the western part of Shimane Prefecture is home to about 30 kagura plays with mythological themes. These plays focus on stories about punishing evil and promoting good. The audience’s hearts fluctuated with the plot. In the end, justice prevailed and the audience was relieved. One of the most popular plays is “Orochi”, which is staged locally. The grand performance scenes and gorgeous costumes are a major attraction.

Iwami Kagura performances are concentrated from October to November, but people can watch this performance year-round at surrounding shrines or tourist facilities. There are more than 130 performance groups and preservation societies, as well as long-established shops specializing in clothing. Iwami Kagura is deeply rooted in the countryside and has been integrated into the lives of local people.

Surprising monsters often appear at tournaments. The Yatsushiro Myoken Festival in central Kumamoto Prefecture has a history of 500 years. A monster called “Turtle Snake” will appear at the game. With the body of a turtle and the head of a snake, it is an imaginary animal affectionately called “game” by locals.

Miaojian refers to the patron saint of Buddhism – Miaojian Bodhisattva. It is said that after the Miaojian belief was introduced to China from India, it merged with the Taoist North Star belief and became Xuanwu, the patron saint of the north. Although there are different opinions, people regard Xuanwu, the image of a turtle entwined by snakes, as one with the turtle and snake, which symbolize longevity and prosperity.

In Yashiro, there was such a legend. In the year 680 of the Asuka Period, the God of Myoken came across the sea riding a turtle and snake, and was enshrined in Myoken Palace ever since. In the early Meiji period, after the promulgation of the policy of separation of Shinto and Buddhism, Yatsushiro Myokengu Shrine was renamed Yatsushiro Shrine. Wonderful insights derived from Buddhism are no longer objects of sacrifice. However, even today, local residents still affectionately call it “Miaojian Palace” or “Miaojian Lord” and sincerely look forward to the arrival of the games.

The program content of the Myoken Festival is rich and colorful. On the day before the game (the 22nd), the God of Myoken rides on a sacred horse, and the God of Fenlingji rides on a palanquin, departing from Myoken Palace to Shioya Hachimangu Shrine, 4.5 kilometers to the west.

On the morning of the tournament, the “Fashion Procession (*1)” consisting of a total of 1,700 people departed from Hachimangu Shrine and headed for Myokengu Shrine. In addition, the gorgeously decorated Umahoko (a float shaped like an umbrella for worshiping gods – translation), lion dance, daimyo procession (*2), etc. are added to form a luxurious and exciting festival parade.

When the procession approached the river beach near Myoken Palace, the turtle and snake finally appeared. This behemoth, which is 4 meters long and weighs 100 kilograms, runs and spins on the river beach, approaching the auditorium. The turtle snake stretches its neck and has a unique shape, which caused the audience to cheer “hoi, hoi”.

Following the tortoise and snake appeared 12 gorgeously decorated horses. This is also a major attraction of the Myoken Festival. The strong horses galloped wildly, and the man holding on to the reins seemed to be flying through the air. The whole scene is very shocking.

In Sekikawa Village in northern Niigata Prefecture, there is an ancient legend related to snakes. It is said that a newlywed wife turned into a giant snake after eating snake meat marinated in soybean paste. The giant snake attempts to block rivers and turn villages into lakes as its habitat. But with the help of Master Pipa, the villagers successfully defeated the snake. This legend probably compares floods to big snakes to warn future generations.

On August 28, 1967, the Yuetsu flood hit Niigata and Yamagata prefectures, and the village of Sekikawa was particularly severely affected. In order to remember the lessons learned from the flood, locals began to hold the “Orochi Festival” in late August. As a result, the legendary big snake reappeared in the world. As the protagonist of the game, the snake is 82.8 meters long. This number is derived from the date of the disaster. The giant snake was recognized by Guinness World Records as “the longest bamboo straw snake in the world”. It was made through the cooperation of more than 50 tribes in the village. It weighs 2 tons and requires 500 people to take turns to carry it.

The longest snake in the world shuttles through the village, which is very shocking when viewed up close. Anyone can participate in snake lifting as long as they apply in advance, so it has become a popular sightseeing activity among tourists. This game not only gathers the strength of the community, but also passes on the memory of the disaster to more future generations through the participation of tourists.