Sasara and Horse Dance (Koma-Odori)

Location: Fujikoto, Fujisato Town Site(s) of performance: Asama Shrine, Hōshōji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): September 7 and 8 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The Fujikoto-Kamiwaka Good Harvest Dance is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Asama Shrine. As its name indicates, it […]

Location: Yonaizawa, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Yonaizawa Shrine, Ryūenji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The lion dance at Yonaizawa developed as a prayer for bumper crops. In the late 19th century, youth in the area established an association, Kyōyūkai (Association of Brave Men), and

Location: Honjō Site(s) of performance: Jōfukuji Temple and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance Despite the name of Honjō Lion Dance, the lion dance itself was lost in the very early years of the tradition, together with horse dance. Only the yakko dance (samurai servants’ dance) and stick

Location: Ani-Maeda, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 13 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The Ani-Maeda Shishi-Dance (Ani-Maeda Lion Dance) is said to originate from the dances that were played during the journey of Lord Satake Yoshinobu from Mito (present-day Ibaraki prefecture) to Akita

Location: Urata, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Genshōji Temple, Urata Shrine, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The horse dance at Urata used to have two styles. One was brought from Noshiro by raftsmen of Yoneshiro River and the other from the mountainous area of Gojome and

Location: Arase, Ani, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 13 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The origin of the Arase Lion Dance goes back at least to the Edo era. It was interrupted by the great famine of 1832, but was fully revived

Location: Kawaguchi, Odate City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 13 and 14 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The lion dance of Kawaguchi consists of the lion dance itself and a yakko dance. There used to be a stick dance in addition. These dances were brought to Akita in 1602 when

Location: Shirasawa, Odate City Site(s) of performance: Shinmei Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): August 14 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The origin of the Shirasawa Lion Dance is believed to go back to a dance brought to Akita by Lord Satake’s escorts when he was reassigned to Akita and made a long

Location: Yamada, Odate City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine, Tōunji, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The origin of the lion dance of Yamada is believed to go back to the dance performed during the long journey of Lord Satake Yoshinobu

Location: Kotsunagi, Futatsui-machi, Noshiro City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 13 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance When Lord Satake was relegated from Hitachi Province (in present-day Ibaraki Prefecture) to Akita in 1602, some people performed a kind of dance which later became the lion