The New Year`s Decorations Go Up In Smoke in Tsuchiura`s Big DONDO-YAKI (どんど焼き) Bonfire on Saturday January 15th
A DONDO-YAKI bonfire by the Sakura River in Tsuchiura (2011)
In Tsukuba, when we want to get rid of any unneeded or unwanted stuff taking up space in our homes, it’s always necessary to consult the City`s GARBAGE SEPARATION MANUAL, which after much bewildered scrutinization might finally reveal when and where certain materials can be disposed of.
However, there are some items for which even that labyrinthine text gives no clue as to how to deal with. For example, the festive decorations and other sacred objects that Japanese people, as a matter of pure common sense, would never simply throw into the garbage.
What is to be done with last year’s Daruma doll and the New Year’s shimenawa (sacred rope), kado-matsu ( a sort of Japanese Christmas tree in pairs) and other decorations? The Japanese do not need to have this information printed in the Trash Disposal Manual. It is natural for them to take such items to a shrine to be disposed of respectfully, or bring them to a ritual burning ceremony usually called DONDOYAKI ( どんど焼き）in this area (though it is variously called called sagicho- 左儀長, dosojin-yaki, sankuroyaki, onpe, etc. in other parts of Japan).
Traditionally, New Years Decorations and other sacred items have been burned at shrines ( or other set locations) throughout Japan on January 14th or 15th. It has been ( and still is) considered VERY lucky and healthy to eat mochi rice cakes which have been roasted in these fires.
Since it was believed that the gods would descend, attracted to these sacred ropes, bamboos and paper etc., it was at the dondoyaki ceremonies these these spirits were thought to return, along with the smoke, to the heavens.
It is when watching the decorations go up in smoke, warmed by the large bon-fire on what is certainly a very cold January day that the Japanese have the sense that the O-Shogatsu ( New Year`s) period is over.
I have also heard that practicioners of Japanese calligraphy ( shodo), take their first works of the year ( kakizome), and put them into the pyres. If these works ascend high into the sky with the smoke,it is a sign that their skill will RISE this year.
If you have any items (straw, wood or paper) that you would like to dispose of with respect, there will be a big dondoyaki bash held on the Tsukuba-Tsuchiura border, by the Gakuen O-hashi Bridge, on The Tsuchiura Gakuen Road (the same place from which the fireworks are launched at the Hanabi Festival). The event will be held on Saturday the 15th, and will begin at 11am. Mochi will be served to the first 200 people who sign up, and registration begins at 9am ( so get there early!).
Don’t put any plastic, ceramic or metal objects in the fire.
See you there! Its quite a spectacle with the huge bonfire and 2oo people roasting rice cake stuck onto the tips of long, bending bamboo poles!
A view from the bridge of the Sakura River and the crowd starting to gather for the DONDOYAKI- the pyre can be seen near the center
Like airport security the city office staff sifts carefully through everything that has been brought to be burned
Before the actual DONDOYAKI gets underway peopel grill their KAGAMI-MOCHI and sweet potatoes as well. Lots of people gather round the grill to keep warm!
Looking closely into the pyre you can see HAMAYA (Lucky Arrows) and SHIMENAWA ( sacred rope) etc.
Starting the blaze!
People ready with long bamboo poles for roasting MOCHI rice cakes
Pink and white rice cakes dangling on the tips of bamboo poles
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January 14th, 2011 - 18:35
Fire is a holy thing for the average Japanese ,even if we are not Zoroastrian, maybe even more so than for other peoples.
Recently, it has become very difficult for Japanese who live urban areas to make fires because of new regulations. We can not make Yakiimo(焼き芋：roasted sweet potato) with Takibi (burning branches in the open air) in Tsukuba, as it is a residential area. In agricultural areas it is permitted.
If you ask your friends in Tokyo whether they have ever made fires they say- yes at campsites in the Mountains or by rivers, But not in Tokyo. During Edo-era it was said: “Eddoko(江戸っこ:Edo born) wa Kaji to Kenka ga meshi yori mo suki: Those born in Edo are fonder of fire and fighting than of eating.”
I am not a real Edokko because I am only the second generation born in Tokyo. But I love to make fires. I made so many fires during my mountain treks in the Hidaka-Mountains in Hokkaido, and made fires many times on around a 5 ha scale of in the National forest in Hiroshima to make grassland for cows. My wife grew up as a Kyoto city girl, but she became an excellent fire maker and keeper in our garden in Tsukuba, she has made fires more than hundreds time. Before making or during fire I used to drink a bit for the Goddess of Fire. And it increases my feeling of ecstasy! My wife does not drink because she is a driver. Thanks my Goddess! Mamaness! Kahchaness!
I think participants of the Dontoyaki will feel this same ecstasy!!!.
January 15th, 2011 - 00:10
I heard that nowadays some people just dispose of new year decorations (esp. the simple kadomatsu) in the trash can as they find it troublesome to take it to the shrine when Jan 7 doesn’t fall on a weekend and people are already working.
January 15th, 2011 - 09:35
Throwing New Year`s decorations in the garbage! A sad state of affairs indeed!
Im just about to head off the the big Dondo-Yaki event down by the Sakura River, not far from my house- much more fun- and we might get some O-Mochi to boot!
Have a great Ko-Shogatsu!
January 15th, 2011 - 21:16
Good evening all!
Here is a report on todays DONDOYAKI, held by the Sakura River in Tsuchiura.
I arrived there at about 10 and the joint was already jumping.
The event has gotten more organized (and seems to have been promoted by the Tsuchiura City office as well.
There were signs up on the road ( the Tsuchiura Gakuen Line) with information on where to turn to get down to the river, and there was stasff to help control traffic.
One thing I DID notice that I hadnt before, was the fact that though lots of people come and stay for the event, many many more just come to drop off their old New Year`s decorations and then leave.
Because of this, even one hour before the fire was lit, there was steady traffic heading out of the riverside.
All those who left sure missed alot of excitement.
It was surprising how thorough and serious the check is of all the stuff that was brought to be burned. It really much stricter that Narita airports security check! Every item to be put into the fire is checked to make sure no plastics or other harmful-when burned items are part of the bonfire.
Then there was the barbecue. lots of folks were crowded around a a large grill where KAGAMI MOCHI and sweet potatoes were being roasted. Another attraction was the warmth emitted by the grill.
Speaking to the staff I found out one important thing. Dondoyaki bonfires were traditionally held in each hamlet or neighborhhod.
Now, however, there are regulations controlling the making of bonfires. That is why the city hold this event- and why it is so strictly controlled.
Not only is there a severe check of all items to be burned, but there is a relatively large contingent of firemen on hand! It is in fact quite funny how safety concsious it all is.
Speaking of firemen, tomorrow morning there will be a DEZOME (fireman event) in Yatabe.
I will tell you all about it when I get back.