Location: Ishigami, Obonai, Tazawako, Semboku City
Site(s) of performance: Kakehi Shrine and Ishigami Community Hall
Date(s): August 14 and Saturday closest to November 9
Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property
Category: Dengaku and Rice Field Entertainment
Obonai Rice-Cropping Dance is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Kakehi Shrine. It was probably a kind of dengaku (rice field performance art) at its origin. According to legends, this dance was brought to this area and adapted to the agricultural culture there by the survivors of the Fujiwara family from Oshu-Hiraizumi (who perished there in 1189) and the descendants of Taira-no-Masakado (whose rebellion was suppressed by the imperial army in 939), who found a place of peace in this area. The community at Ishigami learned this dance around 1830.

About Dengaku and Ta-Asobi