Location: Okurazawa, Yurihonjo City
Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community
Date(s): August 14
Category: Shishimai and Bangaku
The origin of the lion head is unclear, but it is said to be the work of the priest Zezan-Taikaku of Akata-Chōkokuji Temple. The lion head is sculpted with a rough touch. On the upper palate of the lion head, Sanskrit writing for the Celestial Buddha and another Sanskrit text for some god are inscribed, which suggests the merger of Buddhism and Shinto at the time of its creation. The shishimai (lion dance) here was brought from Kuzuoka (in the former Ouchi Town). From Okurazawa, the shishimai was learned by the community of Nakadate. Even though it is called shishimai, there were also dance numbers for Bangaku. The script of unknown date has 14 dance numbers. Only some shishimai numbers have been passed down to date.

About Shishimai and Bangaku