The "Sominsai" festival, with a history of over 1,000 years, ends this year.

February 20, 2024 June 1, 2024

Semin Festival (Source: NHK NEWS)

On the 17th, a " Sominsai " festival was held at Kokuseki Temple in Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture. This festival is a traditional event to pray for rice and health and has a history of over 1,000 years. However, this year was the last time the festival was held due to a decrease in the number of participants. A popular event at the festival is a race among naked men to pick up a sack called a "somin bag," in which more than 270 people participated this year. The last participant who took the bag said, "I am sad to see it end, but this year was a wonderful memory.

Japanese (日本語)

1000年ねん以上いじょうの歴史れきしを誇ほこるお祭まつり「蘇民そみん祭さい」が今年ことしで終了しゅうりょう

岩手県いわてけん奥州市おうしゅうしの黒石寺こくせきじで17日にち、「蘇民そみん祭さい」というお祭まつりが行おこなわれました。このお祭まつりは、米べいや健康けんこうを祈いのる伝統行事でんとうぎょうじで、1000年ねん以上いじょうの歴史れきしがあります。しかし、参加者さんかしゃの減少げんしょうにより、今年ことしが最後さいごの開催かいさいとなりました。お祭まつりの人気にんきイベントは、裸はだかになった男おとこたちが「蘇民そみん袋ぶくろ」と呼よばれる袋ふくろを取とる競争きょうそうで、今年ことしは270人にん以上いじょうが参加さんかしました。袋ふくろを取とった最後さいごの参加者さんかしゃは、「終おわりは寂さびしいが、今年ことしは素晴すばらしい思おもい出でになった」と語かたりました。

Sentence Quiz (文章問題)

It's amazing that the festival continued for 1000 years.

1000年間祭りが続いたのはすごい。

少子高齢化は進む一方だ。

The declining birthrate and aging population are unstoppable.

It's hard to wear water naked at this time.

この時期に裸で水をかぶるのはきつい。

日本人は祭りが大好きだ。

Japanese love festivals.

Related Words (関連ワード)

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Japanese	Hiragana	English
蘇民祭	そみんさい	Somin-sai Festival
伝統行事	でんとうぎょうじ	Traditional Event
1000年以上の歴史	せんねんいじょうのれきし	Over 1000 Years of History
参加者の減少	さんかしゃのげんしょう	Decrease in Participants
最後の開催	さいごのかいさい	Last Hosting
人気イベント	にんきいべんと	Popular Event
裸になった男たち	はだかになったおとこたち	Men Who Became Naked
競争	きょうそう	Competition
素晴らしい思い出	すばらしいおもいで	Wonderful Memories

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