Location: Fukai, Omonogawa-machi, Yokote City
Site(s) of performance: Kashima Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community
Date(s): 3rd Sunday of July
Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi
This is a folkloric performance art for the Kashima-Okuri rituals. After the rice planting and the first round of weeding, a decorated yatai float (Kashima ship) goes around the community in the evening and people put their small Kashima dolls on the yatai float. There is also a large Kashima doll on the same yatai float. After collecting all Kashima dolls, they are placed on small boats and sent into the river. At Fukai, saisai music and dance are performed during the rituals. Saisai is characterized by its hand dance with a hand towel.
