Location: Sarukura, Chokai-machi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: The community hall and other places in the community Date(s): August 15 Designation: State-Designated Important Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku This is a combination of shishimai and bangaku, which used to be called shishimai (lion dance) as a whole. The name of Honkai Bangaku […]
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Location: Umenai, Futatsui-machi, Noshiro City Site(s) of performance: Zentokuji Temple and the open space in front of the community center Date(s): August 13 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The origin of the Umenai Horse Dance is said to go back to 1602, when Lord Satake moved from Hitachi-Ōta (present-day
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Location: Ishikawa, Minehama, Happo Town Site(s) of performance: Sofusawa Shrine, Shōdenji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Designation: Town Designated Intangible Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance For the festival of Ishikawa Horse Dance, also known as Ishikawa Folkloric Performing Art, two kinds of dances have been passed down to
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Location: Kairagefuchi, Noshiro City Site(s) of performance: Kairagefuchi Shinmei Shrine Date(s): August 13 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku According to legend, Kairagefuchi Bangaku was initiated by the survivors of the Taira family after their defeat in the Battle of Dan-no-ura in 1185. It thus has much in common with Nekko Bangaku, which was also founded by
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Location: Osawa, Fujisato Town Site(s) of performance: The open space in front of Awaji Shop in Osawa District (in Osawa Community Hall in case of rain) Date(s): August 14 Category: Bon Dance The Bon dance of Ōsawa started in the late Edo era (1600–1868). It was started to appease the spirits of the ancestors and
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Location: Taninai, Hachimantai, Kazuno City Site(s) of performance: various places in the community Date(s): 1st Saturday of August Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri Bayashi At Taninai, drum music is performed for the Tanabata Festival. Large pentagonal lanterns are lit on the yatai floats and taken around the community. This is a Neburi-Nagashi-type of ritual, which means
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Location: Kami-Nakazawa, Nishime-machi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Ōyamatsumi Shrine Date(s): August 13 (no longer practiced at the time of survey in fiscal year 2011) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Nakazawa Bangaku, which belongs to the school of Honkai Bangaku, has been performed at Obon every summer. It was started
Location: Shibano, Kawaguchi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Ōhirume Shrine, Chōkokuji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): January 11, 3rd Sunday of January, February 11, and August 14 and 22 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku As Shibano was in the territory of Kameda Domain, the community had a close link to Chōkokuji Temple. The
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Location: Sagenabe, Kami-Kawauchi, Chōkai-machi, Yuri-Honjo City Site(s) of performance: Ōhinomiya Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): January 1, April 28, August 13–15, early December (no longer performed as of the time of the survey in fiscal year 2011) Category: Shishimai and Bangaku As it was started by a bangaku master from Hirane (former
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Location: Tsuzureko, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Tsuzureko Shrine, the community center, and other places in the community Date(s): July 14 and 15 Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi The origins of Tsuzureko Big Drums go back to sometime before 1262. Drum music and dance (taiko-furyū), a lion dance, two-color processions (Gempei Shiro-Aka Gyōretsu), and a hot-water
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