[2][3] Hōnen means prosperous year in Japanese, implying a rich harvest, while a matsuri is a festival.

The Hōnen festival and ceremony celebrate the blessings of a bountiful harvest and all manner of prosperity and fertility.

Mitoshi is the son of the Shinto male deity Toshigami (年神) or known by local as Ōtoshi (大歳神, Ōtoshi-no-kami) and grandson of the Shinto deity Susanoo.

Tamahime is a princess and the daughter of Ō'arata (大荒田命, Ō'arata-no-Mikoto), the matriarch of Owari clan (尾張氏) of her husband Takeinadane [ja] (健稲種命, Take'inadane-no-mikoto) who were blessed with two sons and four daughters.

[5] In Inuyama City, there is another festival Sunday before at Ōagata Shrine (大縣神社).