Who is Yagoro Don?

He is supposedly the leader of the Hayato Rebellion in 720 AC during the Nara era (Yoro 4), who fought against the centralized government. This rebellion had been suppressed, but caused heavy casualties as well as cruel executions. Later, a memorial service called ”Hojo-e“ was held to pray for the souls of Hayato and his followers, which became the origin of today’s “Yagoro Don Festival”.
The same festival is held in Iwakawa Hachiman Shrine in Kagoshima Prefecture and Tanoue Hachiman Shrine in Nichinan City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Our Yagoro Don in Yamanokuchi is said to be the first son.

Yamanokuchi Yagoro Don Festival

It is a festival held on November 3 at the Maruno Shrine (Matono Shohachimangu Shrine) in Tomiyoshi, Yamanokuchi-machi, Miyakonojo City, and it has been designated as the intangible folk cultural property of Miyazaki Prefecture in 1990.
The statue of Yagoro Don stands up tall about 4 meters, with a red face and black beard, wearing white cloth made of hemp. He is holding two swords, and has three spears going up from the back of his head. There is a Goshinko parade called “Hamakudari” to “Ikenoo Shrine”, which is about 600m away from Maruno Shrine, and Yagoro Don takes the lead to stroll around.