Date: Jan.12th(Fri.)~Jan.14th(Sun.),2018
Place: Mogami-machi, Yamagata-ken

Activity and attraction of this project:
Akakura area in Mogami-machi, Yamagata-ken has been one of Japanese traditional onsen (spa resort) area.  They have hold “Osaido-torioi-matsuri” over 300 years.  It is alike on many other “Donto-matsuri (festivals)” all over Japan but some differences are existed.  Osaido-torioi-matsuri is held by local young guys who wearing “Fundoshi” in snow.  And they run around with raising a queer and shrill voice as “ho-ho-” as birds away and pray for the well-being of families and people’s good health.  This is because it is called “torioi (birds away)”.  
The scene of the blaze up from torch is so impressive and moving during the festival.  
As the young people living there had been increased, the Osaido-torioi-matsuri faced a crisis of continuation.  But the National Athletic Winter Meeting in 2004 was the turning point.  They have gotten a clue to the problem of holding the festival with young people’s hands from university students near there or young group members in cities.  They started to try inviting younger people for traditional festival.  
We NICE have held Weekend Work camp to aimed at revitalization and promoting the stage for exchange between young people of city and country side.  We believe that young people from cities and local area can make true exchange through cooperating in preparation of the festival and carrying it out with running together.  

We plan to prepare in advance on Jan.12th(Fri.).  We also plan to prepare on the day and to have the festival on Jan.13th(Sat.).  The festival will open simultaneously with “National Ski Tournament for Junior High School Students”, so the date is moved from annual date.  
The preparations of the festival include setting the place, snow shoveling of the approach to the shrine, making torches and packing prizes.  We also help for management of the festival.  




<Schedule>
Jan.12th(Fri.),2018
17:00 Meeting at Akakura-onsen Station on JR Rikutou-Line
19:00~Meeting and Preparation work  

Jan.13th(Sat.),2018
9:00~ Work to set the place up for festival
(We will snow shoveling of the approach to the shrine, make straw tower for Osaido, make Dango-no-ki (dumpling tree) by straw, and pack prizes.)
After work, you can spend the time as you want to.  
19:00 Start Osaido-torioi-matsuri and Fire on Osaido
20:30~UCHIAGE party (drinking party after the festival)

Jan.14th(Sun.),2018
10:00 Breaking up on-the-spot  
*You will be able to have a sightseeing tour (maybe).  

We are waiting for YOU who want to volunteer for local people and who want to liven up the festival with local young people!!


Meeting date: Jan.12th(Fri.),2018  17:00
You can participate from Jan.13th(Sat.).

Meeting place: Akakura-onsen Station on JR Rikutou-Line

Breaking up: Jan.14th(Sun.),2018  around 10:00

Accommodation: Oyutopia (community center)

Belongings: A sleeping bag, Outfit for cold weather (It is very cold there!), Clothes in which you may get dirt, A pair of boots or rain boots (You need to be OK in snow condition!), A pair of gloves, Stuff for spending nights, and the full of energy and power!
*Please contact us if you don’t have a sleeping bag. 

Price: Members \2000, Non-members \2300
*Price includes accommodation fee for 2 nights, supper on Feb.13th(Sat.), insurance fee for non-member.  
*Price does NOT include transportation fee and meals except a supper on the day of the festival.  
*You need to pay hot spring entrance fee at that time.  

Application: To Ichikawa traveler_1kawer@yahoo.co.jp
Title: Application for Weekend Work Camp in Mogami 1/12-1/14
1)Name, 2)Telephone number, 3)E-mail address, 4)Address, 5)Age, 6)Transportation, 7)NICE member or non-member
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you should have any questions.  

Capacity: 10 people (5 males and 5 females)
*We wanted you who can manage your own health by self-control and love the festivals.   

Correspondence in English: Possible

Memo: If you are from Kantou area, the below will be useful for you.  
<Plan 1> Take the Sinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Sendai Station or to Furukawa Station on Jan.12th morning, and then take local train on JR-Line to Akakura-onsen Station.
<Plan 2> Get on night bus from Tokyo to Sinjou on Jan.11th night, and then take local train on JR-Line to Akakura-onsen Station. 
*In case that you can participate from Jan.13th(Sat.), above plans will be effective. 
Please plus one day on plan’s date.  
*You can come with your own car. 

We are looking forward to seeing YOU who can liven up the festival with warm local people in freezing area.