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Dai-Kagura

Dai-Kagura is a kind of lion dance with two performers for one lion. There is also a lion dance with several performers in the body fabric (called by the funny name of Centipede Lion Dance). The main performer puts the lion head on his own head and dances with bells and gohei (decorated wooden wands) in the hand. Dai-Kagura is based on the worship of Ise Shrine and performed with songs having religious meanings. One characteristic of Dai-Kagura is the movement of a clown, called Sasara(suri), who jumps around in front of the lion and makes comical scenes. Sometimes a female dance with the Okame Mask is added. This type of lion dance does not have acrobatics, but in some communities, it is performed with Manzai (celebratory speech performance) and a bird dance. Some Dai-Kagura make a parade to the beats of big and small drums on a kagura-yatai float with the lion head in a small shrine installed on it. Music for Dai-Kagura is played with drums, Japanese flutes, and hand gongs.

Matsugasaki-Hachiman Shrine Kagura Dance
Hadachi Dai Kagura
Ōmori Daidai-Kagura
Kawara Dai-Kagura
Ōkurisawa Kagura Shishi
Nishime-Kataho Hachiman Shrine Kagura
Naka-Yokomachi Kagura
Yawata Kagura
Ishiwaki Kagura
Maegō Kagura (Designated by the city as Dainichi Kagura)
Yatsusugi Hoshinomiya Daimyōjin Kagura
Fushimi Kagura Lion Dance
Sugōda Kagura
Kaizawa Kagura-Shishi
Fukuda Lion Dance
Kurotsuchi Kagura
Fukamauchi Kagura
Yoshida Kagura
Niiyama Kagura
Kumanokozawa Kagura
Kameda Dai-Kagura
Tsukidate Kagura
Bugyōmen-Kagura