Shinjō, Yamagata

Shinjō (新庄市; -shi) is a city located in Yamagata, Japan.

As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 41,568 and the density of 186.34 persons per km². The total area is 223.08 km².

The city was consolidated from several smaller villages on April 1, 1949.

hinjo Matsuri

One of the premier festivals of Yamagata Prefecture, Shinjo Matsuri (or Shinjo Festival) is a Summertime celebration held on August 24 - 26 annually. Held since 1755, the festival was established by the local "Daimyo" (feudal lord) to lift the spirits of the common people after a particularly bad harvest. The current incarnation of the festival includes traditional dancing, a reinactment of the first "Daimyo" Parade", traditional festival vending stalls, and the "Yattai" Parade.

Yattai Parade

The "Yattai" Parade is the premier event of Shinjo Matsuri. Each neighborhood in the city constructs large, vivid scenes from Japanese/local history, folklore, and/or fairy tales on wide floats. These are then pulled throughout the city by children both at day and at night for the three days of the festival. A traditional "hayashi band" of "taiko" drums, cymbals, "shamisen", and Japanese flute follow behind. The hands, feet, and faces of the figures on the floats are traditional Noh design and many floats cost as much as half a million yen to build. The floats are judged and the three winners displayed in Shinjo Station, and the Shinjo History Center. The rest are dismantled.

Transportation

Train stations

* JR East
** Yamagata Shinkansen: Shinjō
**Ōu Main Line: Shinjō - Izumita
**East Riku'u Line: Minami-Shinjō - Shinjō
**West Riku'u Line: Shinjō - Masukata - Uzen-Zennami

Major roads

* Tōhoku Chūō Expressway: Shinjō interchange
* Route 13, Route 47, Route 458

External links

* [http://www.city.shinjo.yamagata.jp/ Shinjo official website] in Japanese