杉之木神社は、蒲生郡竜王町大字山之上に位置し、創建は、天暦元（947）年と伝わる。

　また、承徳２（1098）年に、山之上と東近江宮川町域が、京都祇園社の所領地となり、牛頭天王社の御分霊をそれぞれ二か所に分祀されたと伝えられ、往時は、山之上天王社と称された。宮川町とは、祇園井と呼ばれる用水との関わりも深く、ケンケト祭りは両地域の共同の祭りとして斎行される。

​

“Suginoki shrine”:

“Suginoki Shrine” is located in Yamanoue, Ryuo-cho, Gamo-gun, Shiga-Prefecture. It is said that the shrine was founded in the first year of the Tenryaku era (947AD).

In the second year of the Joutoku era(1098AD) the areas of Yamanoue and Miyagawa-cho, Higashiomi-city became the territory of the “Kyoto Gion Shrine”. It is said that under such circumstances, the deity in “Gozu Tenno Shrine” was branched and the branched deities were enshrined in Suginoki Shrine in Yamanoue area and “Yasaka Shrine” in Miyagawa-cho area, respectively. With such a background, Suginoki Shrine was once named " Yamanoue Tenno Shrine".

Yamanoue area and Miyagawa-cho area also have a deep relation regarding the matter of “Gionyu”. (Gionyu: a well in Kyoto Gion area)

According to all the above, “Kenketo Festival” is held as a joint event of the 2 areas.

​

Religious festivals of “Suginoki Shrine” and “Yasaka Shrine”:

“Suginoki Shrine” in Yamanoue, Ryuo-cho and “Yasaka Shrine” in Miyagawa-cho, Higashiomi-City hold “Kenketo Festival” jointly.

Performers parade toward Suginoki Shrine, carrying a “Inaburo” (a tall pole on which a paper-made heron figure and colorful ornament paper strips are set). In order to lead the Inaburo, other performers also parade toward Suginoki Shrine. They wear matching colorful costumes, beat drums and gongs and perform “Naginata Swinging” on the way. And all those are dedicated to the shrine lastly.

It is said that the colorful paper ornament strips (called Inaburo in a word) can ward off misfortunes. When the Inaburo pole falls down on its way, people are allowed to, in competition, take the Inaburo strips home.

In front of the worship hall of the shrine, small-scale dances, large-scale dances and then “Shimaiburi” dance of Naginata Swinging are performed for the last. There, dancers show their performances that they are good at, such as throwing their naginatas high into the air and jumping over their respective naginatas while holding both ends of them.

・Date :  　May 3rd every year

・Location : 3560 Yamano-ue, Ryuo-cho, Gamo-gun, Shiga-Pref.

            Take Omi bus

From JR Omihachimann Station

to the “Yamanoue” bus stop

(Walk 10 minutes from the bus stop)