Location: Nibuna, Futatsui-machi, Noshiro City
Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community
Date(s): August 13 and 14
Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property
Category: Sasara and Horse Dance
Nibuna Sasara Dance is believed to have been brought here from Dōji (Noshiro City). This sasara consists of a lion dance, yakko dance (samurai servants’ dance), and horse dance. The performers make a queue to represent a daimyo’s procession with usherers, flags, banners, lanterns, carrying trunks, lion dance, samurai servants dance, horse dance, Japanese flutes, and drums. The lion dance is performed by three lions, each performed by one person. Two lions are male and one female. One of the male lions tries to abduct the female lion, but in the end all three lions dance in friendship. Music is played with Japanese flutes and drums, as well as songs for the lion dance.
