Location: Sekiguchi, Yuzawa City
Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine, Yakushi Shrine, and other places in the community
Date(s): 3rd Saturday and Sunday of September (the annual festival of Hachiman Shrine)
Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property
Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi
The Yuzawa Gion Bayashi is a festival music at the community of Mitsuseki, played at the annual festival of Hachiman Shrine. The origin of this music is unknown. On the day of the festival, a yatai float for musicians goes around the community performing the music at various places. To conclude the rituals, Yuzawa Gion Bayashi is performed at the prayer site of Hachiman Shrine. Music is played with shamisen (three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instruments), Japanese flutes, drums, and shime-daiko (small high-pitched Japanese drums).
