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Introduction

“The Yassa Festival,” in which both adults and children dance and parade with a portable shrine along the streets, shouting “Yassa, mossa!” enthusiastically, is the biggest event in Yugawara Onsen.

“The Yassa Festival” is said to be derived from the “Sanehira Dance” started by Sanehira Jiro Doi, the lord of Doi-go (now Yugawara) long ago, for his people’s personal security. Sanehira is known for acting as the major driving force for the revival of the Minamoto clan.
After the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate, Sanehira, held in high regard for his abilities, was dispatched to Aki Province (Hiroshima Prefecture) to ensure the security of the Seto Inland Sea, and made numerous achievements there. After his death, the people of his domain created what is now the “Mihara Yassa,” in memory of his outstanding virtue.
Yugawara’s “Sanehira Dance” faded from use long ago, but the townspeople’s love and respect for Sanehira endured, and prompted this “Mihara Yassa” to be adopted and revived as the “Yugawara Yassa.”