Hatsuuma is a very important matsuri for Inari Shrines.
Hatsuuma means “the first day of the Horse”.
It is said that Uka-no-mitama-no-kami, who as you may know is Inari Ōkami-sama, descended to Mt. Inari on the first Horse Day in February, in the year 711 (和銅4年). All Inari Jinja (Inari Shinto Shrines) celebrate that event, on the first Horse Day in the second month of the year.
How do we find the day of the Horse?
As you may know, there are 12 zodiac signs, known in Japanese as 十二支 (jūnishi), which are:
Rat 子（ね）・Ox 丑（うし）・Tiger 寅（とら）・Rabbit 卯（う）・Dragon 辰（たつ）・Snake 巳（み）・Horse 午（うま）・Sheep 未（ひつじ）・Monkey 申（さる）・Chicken 酉（とり）・Dog 戌（いぬ）・Wild Boar 亥（いのしし）
The short version of determining the date is to put the zodiac signs in the calendar in zodic order which has been used since ancient times.
For example, if January 1 falls on the Day of the Chicken, then January 2 is the Day of the Dog, and January 3 is the Day of the Wild Boar. Following this 12-day rotation, the first Day of the Horse in that year would occur on January 10.
What is the difference between the lunar and solar calendar?
The lunar calendar and the solar calendar count time in different ways. The solar calendar is based on the movement of the sun and has fixed dates, starting on January 1 each year, while the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, so its months begin with each new moon.
Because of this, the start of the lunar year changes every year when compared to the solar calendar.
It usually begins sometime between late January and mid-February.
After the lunar year begins, the zodiac cycle continues day by day in the same repeating 12-day order. To find the Horse day for Hatsuuma, you follow this cycle from the beginning of the lunar year and count forward until the first Horse day in the second lunar month.
So when do we celebrate Hatsuuma-sai?
It is said that Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto on Inariyama (Mt. Inari) is the headquarters of all Inari Shrines. They are celebrating this very important day which we can say is the day of the beginning of Inari.
Fushimi Inari Taisha and many other Inari Shrines follow the solar calendar, holding Hatsuuma-sai on the first Horse Day in February.
However, our main shrine, Shusse Inari Jinja in Matsue holds Hatsuuma-sai according to the lunar calendar.
(Check our News page for future Hatsuuma-sai dates).
Uka-no-mitama-no-kami descended on Mt. Inari on the lunar calendar’s first Horse Day in the 2nd month. It is usually close to the Spring Equinox. This is the time when the weather is definitely getting warmer in Japan, animals appear frequently in the fields, and plants start to grow and bloom. We are sure people during ancient times felt the blessings of Inari Ōkami-sama just the same as we do in this modern age. It is also said Hatsuuma-sai was merged with the Spring Matsuri which was the “Praying for a Good Harvest” matsuri in ancient times.
Shusse Inari Jinja has always held the Spring Matsuri at the same time as Hatsuuma.
What do people do on the Hatsu-uma-sai?
Traditionally people visit an Inari Shrine, known as the “Lucky Visit.” It is believed visiting brings good fortune to you.
We hope you will join our Hatsuuma-sai on our Youtube livestream and receive a good fortune from Inari Ōkami-sama.
