Jizo Festival

The Jizo Festival is a historic community celebration held in the Nakamura District of Miyazaki City, Japan. The event dates back approximately 150 years to when local residents reportedly discovered a wooden Jizo statue drifting in the nearby Oyodo River. Following the discovery and subsequent enshrining of the figure, the neighborhood established this annual tradition to honor the deity.

During the festival, local children take the lead by pulling a float that houses the wooden statue through the district. Because the event occurs during periods of extreme summer heat, participants and onlookers splash the children with water. This practice serves both a ritual purpose and a practical function, offering relief from temperatures that can exceed 35 degrees Celsius while maintaining the district's unique cultural heritage.