On September 22, 2024, the Komaneko Festival was held at Kotohira Shrine in Mineyama-cho, Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, and other locations, with the theme of the connection between the local specialty Tango Chirimen and cats.
In Tango Chirimen, mice are the greatest enemy as they devour cocoons and silkworms. Cats are considered important creatures that drive away mice, and Komaneko (Japanese cats) have been installed in place of Komainu (Japanese dog) in the shrine grounds.
This was the ninth festival. About 30 stores set up shop at the handmade market held on the grounds and buildings of the shrine grounds. In addition to cat-shaped wooden products and Japanese sweets, there were also dolls made from cocoons produced in the city.
There were also workshops where participants could paint cat masks and ceramics, and they painted them as they pleased.
The nearby Tanaka Furniture Gallery (Mineyama-cho, Kyotango City) also held the "Otango Neko-ha-ten" (free admission until September 23rd), where visitors were entertained by paintings and photographs of cats drawn by local residents.
