Location: Fukushima, Masuda-machi, Yokote City
Site(s) of performance: Gassan Shrine and other places in the community
Date(s): September 14 and 15 (the annual festival of Gassan Shrine)
Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property
Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi
According to legend, Satake Yoshimasa, lord of the Akita Domain, visited here in August 1811. To entertain the lord, the villagers decided to perform a dance and the young men of the village, who worked at Nanoka-machi in the town of Masuda, learned the saisai dance there. That started the tradition. The music float used to be carried on the backs of eight strong men, but now wheels are put under the float. A big drum is installed on it with the decoration of Japanese pampas grass and bamboo. The player walks behind the float and beats the big drum.
