Location: Kamisugi, Kita-Akita City
Site(s) of performance: Kamisugi Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community
Date(s): 3rd Sunday and Monday of September
Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property
Category: Sasara and Horse Dance
The Kamisugi Daimyo Procession has long been practiced as part of the annual festival of Kamisugi Hachiman Shrine. It is believed to have started in the Edo era. Starting from the shrine, the procession inspects the rice fields with stick holders, spear holders, naginata (long sword) holders, pigeon holders, carrying trunk holders, the lord (daimyo), banner holders, other spear holders, conical hat holders, and finally lions. The procession goes to the temple, reports the crops of the year to the spirits of the ancestors, and performs the lion dance to conclude the rituals.
