Location: Himeno, Nikaho City Site(s) of performance: Kushi Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): Hatsu-uma (i.e., the first Day of the Ox in February) Category: Shishi-Kagura The performance mainly consists of the Lion Head Dance (also called the Twelve-Number Lion Dance), a kind of shishimai (lion dance) on the occasion of the Inari […]
Kushi Shrine Lion Head Dance (Hatsu-uma Rituals) Read More »
Location: Konoura, Nikaho City Site(s) of performance: Konoura Shrine Date(s): January 3, February 4 and 11, and August 18 Category: Shishi-Kagura This is a shihimai (lion dance) performed at the annual festival of Konoura-yama Shrine on the first day of spring (the day exactly between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, usually February 4).
Konoura-yama Shrine Twelve-Number Lion Dance Read More »
Location: Matsudate, Hachimantai, Kazuno City Site(s) of performance: Sugawara Shrine Date(s): April 25 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Matsudate-Tenmangū Shrine (alias Sugawara Shrine) was founded either in 1300 or in 1022 under the authority of Kitano-Tenmangū in Kyoto with Sugawara Michizane as its main deity. It is believed that the
Matsudate-Tenmangū Shrine Sandaisan Gongen Dance Read More »
Location: Matsugasaki, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine Date(s): 1st Sunday of July Category: Ō-Kagura This kagura dance was started under the influence of the school of the Ise-Ō-Kagura (also pronounced Ise-Dai-Kagura) dance. It is executed by two performers, one carrying the lion head on his head and the other dancing as the body
Matsugasaki-Hachiman Shrine Kagura Dance Read More »
Location: Higahi-Yurishuku Site(s) of performance: Mitake Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku This shishimai (lion dance) belongs to the school of Honkai Shishimai. There used to be a shitamai (pre-dance) before the shishimai and sword dances and fan dances after. Only the shishimai has been passed down
Location: Nakabashi, Kisakata-machi, Nikaho City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): 3rd Saturday and Sunday of May Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Furyū Shagiri is a Shinto festival with lively music and dance. It does not have a clear starting date but is probably a development of
Shagiri of Nakabashi Read More »
Location: Kawafukuro, Kisakata-machi, Nikaho City Site(s) of performance: Kushi Shrine, Suwa Shrine, and other places in the community Date(s): April 10, 3rd Sunday of May, and June 5 Category: Shishi-Kagura The performance mainly consists of the performance of the Lion Head Dance (also called the Twelve-Number Lion Dance), a kind of shishimai (lion dances). The
Kushi Shrine Okashira Rituals Read More »
Location: Nagamine, Hachimantai, Kazuno City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): The Saturday and Sunday closest to July 15 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Furyū Sakibarai Dance is a kind of exorcism dance that is performed before the departure of a mikoshi (a religious palanquin carrying a
Nagamine Hachiman Shrine Sakibarai Dance Read More »
Location: Shigenai-Yashiki, Yukisawa, Odate City Site(s) of performance: Yukisawa Elementary School Gymnasium and other places in the community Date(s): June 1 of the lunar calendar Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi Kashima Drums are a kind of Hayashi Geinō performed at the Kashima Festival in the area. Shigenai-Yashiki is a community on the shore of the Nagakigawa
Shigenai-Yashiki Kashima Drums Read More »
Location: Shitakawara, Hanawa, Kazuno City Site(s) of performance: Inari Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): April 19 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The Shitakawara Horse Dance is performed at Inari Shrine the day before its annual festival. Even though it is called a horse dance performance, in
Shitakawara Horse Dance Read More »