Monzen Harukoma is a traditional folk performance handed down in the Monzen district of Kawaba Village, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture. It has been designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Gunma Prefecture.
Every year on February 11, the performance is dedicated to Konko Inari Shrine, which has long been worshipped as a guardian deity of sericulture. The event is held to pray for family safety, abundant harvests, and prosperity in sericulture, and continues to be carefully preserved by the local community.
Harukoma was originally a form of kadotsuke, a traditional performing art in which entertainers visited individual homes around the New Year to offer songs, dances, and blessings for the coming year.
Until the Taisho period (1912–1926), traveling entertainers reportedly visited the Monzen district every year and performed Harukoma dances. According to local tradition, however, the performers stopped coming one year, after which poor harvests continued.
In response, local residents began performing the dance themselves and passed it down from generation to generation. Since then, young people in the community have played a central role in preserving the tradition.
Today, Monzen Harukoma remains a valuable example of folk performing arts born from the community’s shared beliefs, solidarity, and desire for prosperity.
On February 11, traditionally associated with the New Year in the old calendar, local young men dress in women’s clothing and take on the roles of a traveling entertainer family consisting of a father, mother, and daughter.
The group consists of one “mother,” two dancers, and one “father.” Wearing colorful costumes, they sing and dance as they travel from house to house, visiting approximately 130 households throughout the village.
Each household warmly welcomes the performers. After the performance, the family traditionally gives the group a monetary gift as a token of appreciation.
This traditional practice creates a heartwarming scene in which the entire community comes together. The lively performances, filled with humor and wishes for good fortune, are so unusual and distinctive that Monzen Harukoma is sometimes described as a “strange festival” in the Japanese sense of a rare and unconventional local celebration.
Harukoma is traditionally a New Year auspicious performing art, or a ritual intended to bring good fortune in advance. Performers use decorations resembling horse heads while singing and dancing to welcome happiness and prosperity in the new year.
Its origins are said to be connected to the Hakuba no Sechie, an imperial court ceremony held during the Heian period (794–1185). The custom was associated with the belief that seeing a white horse could ward off evil influences.
Harukoma dances have been preserved in various parts of Japan, but the version in Kawaba Village has developed a distinctive local character through its connection with the worship of a deity associated with sericulture.
Monzen Harukoma is more than a seasonal festival. It offers a rare opportunity to experience the history, religious traditions, and strong community ties of a rural Japanese village.
Against the crisp winter air, the sight of performers in colorful costumes accompanied by lively musical rhythms creates a memorable atmosphere. The combination of humor, music, dance, and prayers for prosperity makes the event particularly distinctive.
Visitors can also combine the festival with sightseeing in Kawaba Village, including its beautiful natural surroundings and hot springs, to gain a deeper appreciation of the area’s traditional culture.
Preserved by local residents over many generations, Monzen Harukoma continues to welcome the New Year and bring wishes for happiness and prosperity to Kawaba Village.
From JR Numata Station, the Monzen area is approximately 30 minutes by bus.
From the Numata Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, it takes approximately 15 minutes by car.
Because the festival is held outdoors in February, visitors attending the event on February 11 should prepare for cold winter weather and wear appropriate warm clothing.