Location: Kemanai, Towda, Kazuno City
Site(s) of performance: Gassan Shrine and other places in the community
Date(s): July 12 and 13
Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property
Category: Dai-Kagura
The dai-kagura performed at the annual festival of Gassan Shrine is a kind of shishimai (lion dance), and is considered to be one of variants of Ise Dai-Kagura. The lion here is performed by two persons. After the dance is offered to the god in the shrine, the lion ushers the mikoshi (divine palanquin) and dances at various places in the community. It is accompanied by manzai (a category of traditional folkloric performance art with celebratory speeches) of Tayū and Saizō, who present rather comical conversations. The Kawara dai-kagura is said to have started in 1657.

About Dai-Kagura