Report on the Kurihama Summer Festival and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A traditional summer festival was held in the Kurihama area of Yokosuka, Japan, uniting community members in a Shinto ritual to pray for marine safety. This event serves as a practical case study in the localized implementation of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Event Analysis and Contribution to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The festival is a significant cultural event that strengthens the social fabric and safeguards cultural heritage, directly contributing to Target 11.4 of the SDGs. The activities observed demonstrate a robust community-led initiative to foster inclusivity and unity.

• Community Mobilization: Hundreds of residents participated, demonstrating strong social cohesion.
• Cultural Heritage Preservation: The procession of the mikoshi (portable shrine) from the Sumiyoshi Shrine through local neighborhoods preserves and promotes unique Shinto traditions.
• Institutional Strengthening: The Kurihama Neighbourhood Association, led by Shuji Shimizu, played a pivotal role in organizing the event, highlighting the importance of local institutions in building community resilience. Mr. Shimizu’s statement, “It’s a celebration of our own strength and unity,” underscores the festival’s role in reinforcing community bonds.

Focus on SDG 14: Life Below Water

The festival’s central theme is a prayer for marine safety, which directly aligns with the principles of SDG 14, promoting the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources. The ritualistic elements emphasize the community’s profound connection to and dependence on the sea.

1. Ritual for Marine Safety: The procession culminated at the beach, where priests performed chants and dances specifically for marine well-being.
2. Symbolic Immersion: The climax, where bearers carried the mikoshi into the sea, symbolizes a deep respect for the ocean and a plea for its benevolence, reinforcing a culture of marine stewardship.
3. Support for Maritime Livelihoods: A final stop at the local ferry terminal to bless a vessel for safe travels explicitly links the cultural practice to the safety and sustainability of maritime activities, which are crucial for the local economy (related to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Broader SDG Implications

The event also supports other interconnected development goals:

• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): By fostering unity and relying on a strong local institution like the Neighbourhood Association, the festival contributes to building a peaceful, inclusive, and resilient society from the grassroots level.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The communal celebration promotes social and mental well-being by reinforcing a sense of belonging and shared purpose.

Conclusion

The Kurihama summer festival is more than a cultural spectacle; it is a functional model of how traditional practices can actively support global sustainability objectives. By integrating cultural heritage with a profound respect for the marine environment, the community of Yokosuka demonstrates a holistic approach to sustainable development, effectively advancing the principles of SDGs 11 and 14 through localized, collective action.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article focuses on a local cultural festival that strengthens community bonds and preserves cultural heritage within the city of Yokosuka. This directly relates to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by fostering social cohesion and protecting cultural assets.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The festival is organized by the “Kurihama Neighbourhood Association,” a local institution that promotes unity and participation. The head of the association’s statement, “It’s a celebration of our own strength and unity,” highlights the role of the event in building a peaceful and inclusive society at the community level.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The festival is intrinsically linked to the marine environment. It takes place at a beach, involves bearers entering the sea, and includes prayers for “marine safety” and the “safe travels” of ferries. This demonstrates a cultural connection to and respect for the ocean, which is relevant to the sustainable use of marine resources.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The event is a result of a partnership between different local entities. The Sumiyoshi Shrine provides the religious and ritualistic elements (mikoshi, priests), while the Kurihama Neighbourhood Association organizes the community and logistical aspects, demonstrating a civil society partnership to achieve a common cultural goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

   • The article describes a summer festival that is a living tradition, complete with a “portable shrine called mikoshi, decorated with Shinto ornaments,” priests, and rituals. The entire event is an active effort by the community to safeguard its intangible cultural heritage. The statement that “Everyone has been looking forward to this day all year” shows its importance to the community’s cultural identity.

2. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

   • The festival is organized and led by the “Kurihama Neighbourhood Association,” a local, community-based institution. The gathering of “hundreds of residents” and the leadership’s message about unity indicate a participatory process that includes the local population in a significant community event.

3. Target 14.7: By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.

   • While Japan is not an SIDS or LDC, the principle of sustainable use of marine resources for cultural and community purposes is relevant. The festival uses the beach and sea as a central part of its “seaside spectacle.” The prayers for “marine safety” and for the ferry’s “safe travels” represent a non-extractive, cultural value derived from the marine environment, akin to sustainable cultural tourism.

4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

   • The article highlights a partnership between a religious institution (Sumiyoshi Shrine) and a civil society organization (Kurihama Neighbourhood Association). The shrine provides the sacred mikoshi and priests, while the association organizes the community parade, demonstrating an effective local partnership to sustain a cultural tradition.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 11.4:

   • The article provides qualitative evidence that serves as an indicator. The “annual celebration of the summer festival” itself is an indicator of the continued safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. The description of the “portable shrine called mikoshi,” the parade route, and the Shinto rituals implies the existence and practice of specific cultural traditions.

2. Indicator for Target 16.7:

   • An implied indicator is the existence and active role of local, participatory institutions like the “Kurihama Neighbourhood Association.” The level of community engagement, mentioned as “Hundreds of residents gathered,” serves as a measure of participation in this community-led event.

3. Indicator for Target 14.7:

   • A qualitative indicator is the community’s cultural engagement with the marine environment. The act of holding a festival where “bearers entered the water up to their necks” and offering “prayers for marine safety” indicates a cultural value placed on the sea, which is a form of sustainable, non-commercial use.

4. Indicator for Target 17.17:

   • The article implicitly points to an indicator through its description of the functional collaboration between the “Sumiyoshi Shrine” and the “Kurihama Neighbourhood Association.” The successful execution of the festival, which relies on both the shrine’s religious assets and the association’s community organization, is an indicator of an effective civil society partnership.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: aljazeera.com