Shishimai and Bangaku

Location: Kayagasawa, Akita City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): Anytime Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Kayagasawa Bangaku consists of shishimai (lion dance) and bangaku. Its beginning goes back to 1781 when the priest Zezan-Taikaku of Akata-Chōkokuji Temple brought shishimai-bangaku here for prayers for bumper crops and […]

Location: Iseiji, Nikaho City Site(s) of performance: Enmei-Jizōson Temple Date(s): July 23 and August 26 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku This bangaku belongs to the school of Honkai Bangaku and is of the same characteristics as the bangaku performed in the communities around Mt. Chōkai. The main performance is given in the prayer hall of Enmei-Jizōson

Location: Yokooka, Kisakata-machi, Nikaho City Site(s) of performance: Yokooka Community Hall Date(s): January 1 and 2, a day in June, July 1, August 13 and 15, and September 1 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku This is the bangaku of Yokooka (former Kisakata Town) and was also called Yokooka Shishimai or

Location: Tane, Futatsui-machi, Noshiro City Site(s) of performance: Kumano Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): May 3 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku In the old days, Tane Bangaku was performed as an offering at the annual festival of Kumano Shrine. According to legend, the daughter of the local

Location: Kotaki, Kisakata-machi, Nikaho City Site(s) of performance: The community center and other places in the community Date(s): The day before the 2nd Saturday of June (the day before the shrine’s annual festival), August 13, and August 1 in the lunar calendar Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Bangaku of Kotaki

Location: Kami-Sendo, Ugo Town Site(s) of performance: Hakusan Shrine, the lion head keeper’s house, and other places in the community Date(s): Mid-April and the days of Obon in August Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The troupe starts from the lion head keeper’s house to Hakusan Shrine with marching music. Once

Location: Shinsawa, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): August 14 and 2nd Saturday of September Category: Shishimai and Bangaku There is a record dated September 1843 that the shishimai-bangaku here was performed in front of the lord of Kameda Domain and very much pleased him. It is

Location: Maenosawa, Naka-Hitane, Chokai-machi, Yuri-Honjo City Site(s) of performance: Hitane Shrine, the community center, and other places in the community Date(s): May 5, 1st or 2nd Sunday of September, and mid-November Designation: State-Designated Important Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The name of Honkai Bangaku comes from the name of the priest Honkai,

Location: Shimo-Hitane, Chōkai-machi, Yuri-Honjo City Site(s) of performance: The community center and other places in the community Date(s): January 14, August 16, and December 23 Designation: State-Designated Important Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The name of Honkai Bangaku comes from the name of the priest Honkai, a shugen (Buddhist ascetic) of the

Location: Hirane, Kami-Kawauchi, Chōkai-machi, Yuri-Honjo City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): May 15 and August 15 Designation: State-Designated Important Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The name of Honkai Bangaku comes from the name of the priest Honkai, a shugen (Buddhist ascetic) of the 17th century