Location: Hanekawa, Shimohama, Akita City
Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community
Date(s): 3rd Sunday of September
Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property
Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi
The community of Hanekawa, in the Shimohama area in Akita City, is a very old community. In the middle ages, it was governed by Nitta Yoshimasa, one of the twelve lords of Yuri, who had a castle here. Hanekawa is the new family name taken by Nitta Yoshimasa. When Hanekawa Kotarō invaded the Semboku region and conquered Ōmagari Castle, he danced with a sword at the banquet of victory and invited people to dance with silver fans. The sword dance was discontinued, but the fan dance remains to date.
