Location: Kami-Hinokinai, Nishiki-machi, Semboku City
Site(s) of performance: The cemetery and Tozawa Community Center
Date(s): August 7, 13, and 17 in the modern calendar, and August 15 in the lunar calendar
Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property
Category: Sasara and Bon Dance
The sasara dance at Tozawa is performed quite differently from the sasara dance of the Semboku area in general. The lion heads and costumes are also characteristic. As to its origin, in addition to the legends that the sasara here is derived from what the followers of Lord Satake brought to Akita in the early 17th century, there is a legend that the Tozawa family brought it here from Shizukuishi in Nambu Domain (in present-day Iwate Prefecture).
