Location: Yagi, Masuda-machi, Yokote City
Site(s) of performance: Yagi Shrine
Date(s): September 8 and 9
Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property
Category: Shishimai and Bangaku
Yagi Bangaku is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Yagi Shrine. Early in the Edo era (1600–1868), shugen ascetics of Haguro (in present-day Yamagata Prefecture) visited here to propagate their teachings, and they also taught bangaku to local young people. A unique thing here is that the bangaku is danced with makeup, not with masks. The music is played with drums, Japanese flutes, and hand cymbals.

About Shishimai and Bangaku