To the Children 100 Years from Now: Crowdfunding Starts for the 392-Year-Old Murakami Taisai Festival, Which Has Overcome Wars and Disasters
The Murakami Festival Preservation Association in Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to preserve the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Murakami Taisai' for the future. They aim to raise 1.5 million yen to cover the costs of repairing festival floats and enhancing security.
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- 📰 Published: May 15, 2026 at 01:55
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The Murakami Festival Preservation Association (Location: Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture; Representative: Akira Watanabe) will launch the project '【392 Years of History】We Want to Connect the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Murakami Taisai' to the Future!' on the crowdfunding service 'CAMPFIRE' at noon on May 9, 2026, and begin accepting support.
This project aims to repair the aging 'Oshagiri' floats and strengthen the security system amidst growing global attention, ensuring the succession of the Murakami Taisai, which has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Click here for crowdfunding details
Crowdfunding Overview
【392 Years of History】We Want to Connect the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Murakami Taisai' to the Future!
Period: May 9, 2026 - June 30, 2026
Goal Amount: 1,500,000 yen
URL: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/941922/view
Purpose of Crowdfunding
The Murakami Taisai has been passed down for 392 years, overcoming wars and disasters. In December 2025, it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. However, behind this glorious honor, we stand at a major crossroads. The Oshagiri floats, which have a history of over 300 years, are severely damaged and require careful restoration. With global attention, security costs to protect visitors are also increasing. This is a challenge to safely pass on this 392-year-old spectacle to the next generation, and to the one 100 years beyond.
Main Initiatives
The support we receive from everyone will be used for the repair of the Oshagiri floats by skilled craftsmen and for security expenses. We want to protect this tradition not as a 'closed local event,' but as a 'treasure that Japan can be proud of to the world,' together with everyone in the nation. We hope that not only the people of Murakami but also those who have just learned about the Murakami Taisai will become 'new bearers' of this festival.
A Crisis of Survival Faced Behind Global Attention
'I want to ride that Oshagiri (float)!' All children growing up in Murakami say so with sparkling eyes. It is an event held at the grand festival of Senami Haguro Shrine, where 19 floats parade through the old Murakami castle town, along with a procession of warrior-clad figures called Kasaboko and Arauma, accompanying the portable shrine's procession. The summer of 2026 will be the first time it is held after being registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. While expectations are high, the reality is becoming increasingly severe.
The damage to the Oshagiri, which have a history of over 300 years, is severe, and due to the aging of craftsmen and the soaring cost of materials, even a single repair requires a huge amount of money. Also, with global attention, security costs to protect visitors are more necessary than ever. In Murakami City, where the population is declining, it has become difficult to maintain this enormous history with the support of only local residents. If we give up on repairs and cannot ensure safety, the light of this festival, which has not been extinguished for 392 years, will dim in our generation. We face the fear of this 'irretrievable loss' every day.
【Project Owner Information】
Organization Name: Murakami Festival Preservation Association
Representative: Akira Watanabe
Address: Murakami City Education Information Center, 4-25 Tabata-cho, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture
【Contact for this matter】
Contact Person: Murakami Festival Preservation Association Secretariat
Phone Number: 0254-53-7511
Email: murakami.taisai77@gmail.com
This project aims to repair the aging 'Oshagiri' floats and strengthen the security system amidst growing global attention, ensuring the succession of the Murakami Taisai, which has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Click here for crowdfunding details
Crowdfunding Overview
【392 Years of History】We Want to Connect the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage 'Murakami Taisai' to the Future!
Period: May 9, 2026 - June 30, 2026
Goal Amount: 1,500,000 yen
URL: https://camp-fire.jp/projects/941922/view
Purpose of Crowdfunding
The Murakami Taisai has been passed down for 392 years, overcoming wars and disasters. In December 2025, it was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. However, behind this glorious honor, we stand at a major crossroads. The Oshagiri floats, which have a history of over 300 years, are severely damaged and require careful restoration. With global attention, security costs to protect visitors are also increasing. This is a challenge to safely pass on this 392-year-old spectacle to the next generation, and to the one 100 years beyond.
Main Initiatives
The support we receive from everyone will be used for the repair of the Oshagiri floats by skilled craftsmen and for security expenses. We want to protect this tradition not as a 'closed local event,' but as a 'treasure that Japan can be proud of to the world,' together with everyone in the nation. We hope that not only the people of Murakami but also those who have just learned about the Murakami Taisai will become 'new bearers' of this festival.
A Crisis of Survival Faced Behind Global Attention
'I want to ride that Oshagiri (float)!' All children growing up in Murakami say so with sparkling eyes. It is an event held at the grand festival of Senami Haguro Shrine, where 19 floats parade through the old Murakami castle town, along with a procession of warrior-clad figures called Kasaboko and Arauma, accompanying the portable shrine's procession. The summer of 2026 will be the first time it is held after being registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. While expectations are high, the reality is becoming increasingly severe.
The damage to the Oshagiri, which have a history of over 300 years, is severe, and due to the aging of craftsmen and the soaring cost of materials, even a single repair requires a huge amount of money. Also, with global attention, security costs to protect visitors are more necessary than ever. In Murakami City, where the population is declining, it has become difficult to maintain this enormous history with the support of only local residents. If we give up on repairs and cannot ensure safety, the light of this festival, which has not been extinguished for 392 years, will dim in our generation. We face the fear of this 'irretrievable loss' every day.
【Project Owner Information】
Organization Name: Murakami Festival Preservation Association
Representative: Akira Watanabe
Address: Murakami City Education Information Center, 4-25 Tabata-cho, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture
【Contact for this matter】
Contact Person: Murakami Festival Preservation Association Secretariat
Phone Number: 0254-53-7511
Email: murakami.taisai77@gmail.com