TT

Usui Kashima-Okuri

Location: Usui, Omonogawa-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Yasaka Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): Sunday in early July Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi This is a folkloric performance art of dance music for the Kashima-Okuri rituals, which is practiced after the rice planting season. Starting from Yasaka Shrine, the principal shrine of the […]

Usui Kashima-Okuri Read More »

Yasawagi Lion Dance

Location: Yasawagi, Omori-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: The open space in front of Maeda Community Center and other places in the community Date(s): August 14 and anytime Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Yasawagi Lion Dance was also called Motoki Bangaku. The Kikuchi Family of Motoki (in the former

Yasawagi Lion Dance Read More »

Nakamura Bangaku

Location: Nakamura, Babame, Gojome Town Site(s) of performance: Gojōme Shinmei Shrine Date(s): 3rd Saturday of May (Gojome Bangaku Performance Event at the annual festival of Shinmei Shrine) Designation: Town-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku According to legend, the origin of this bangaku goes back to the 17th century. The existing bangaku mask

Nakamura Bangaku Read More »

Yotsuya Kashima-Okuri

Location: Higashi-Yotsuya, Taiyu, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Shinmei Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): July 20 Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi Throughout the former Age area, including the community of Yotsuya, the Kashima-Okuri Festivals have been held on the same day. Kashima-Okuri is a ritual of prayer for good harvests against insect pests

Yotsuya Kashima-Okuri Read More »

Fukai Kashima-Okuri

Location: Fukai, Omonogawa-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Kashima Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): 3rd Sunday of July Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi This is a folkloric performance art for the Kashima-Okuri rituals. After the rice planting and the first round of weeding, a decorated yatai float (Kashima ship) goes around the

Fukai Kashima-Okuri Read More »

Kashima-Okuri and the Kijita-Kitazawa Kashima Shrine Festival

Location: Kijita, Jumonji-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Kashima Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): The day before Marine Day (a national holiday on the 3rd Monday of July) Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi This ritual is performed at the annual festival of Kashima Shrine, where traditional dance music is played. The Kashima is

Kashima-Okuri and the Kijita-Kitazawa Kashima Shrine Festival Read More »

Kakumagawa Bon Dance

Location: Kakumagawa-machi, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Kakumagawa Main Street Date(s): August 16 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Bon Dance This dance is performed on a street, Kakumagawa Main Street, for it was the tradition here to perform the dance in front of the residences of the local landlords: namely, the Hongō family,

Kakumagawa Bon Dance Read More »

Tanaka Dance

Location: Asamai, Hiraka-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: The street in front of the Hiraka Regional Development Office, Yokote City Date(s): August 18 Category: Bon Dance The Bon dance was brought here by the Kamimura family of the village. The ancestors of the Kamimura family lived at Nabekura (in the former Hiraka Town). After a

Tanaka Dance Read More »

Horiminai Sasara

Location: Horiminai, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Kōsenji Temple and Horio Shrine Date(s): August 7, 13, and 19 and September 7 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The origin of the sasara at Horiminai is said to go back sometime before the Edo era (1600–1868), but it is also said

Horiminai Sasara Read More »