Location: Kawai, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 13 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The horse dance came from Fujikoto (in Fujisato Town) and the yakko dance (samurai servants’ dance) from Tsurugata (in Noshiro City). Since those two communities have a long history …
Location: Nishinosawa, Osarizawa, Kazuno City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine Date(s): May 5 and September 15 (the day of the annual festival of the shrine) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Miko-Kagura and Yudate-Kagura This lion dance has been performed since around 1481. At Hachiman Shrine, it is performed as an offering every year …
Location: Araya, Kosaka Town Site(s) of performance: The open space in front of Nanataki Community Center Date(s): August 15 Category: Bon Dance The Kosaka Bon Dance is a Bon dance danced to appease the spirits of the ancestors. A big drum is used for music, as is often the case in the Kazuno area. The …
Location: Kasuda, Odate City Site(s) of performance: Anywhere Date(s): Anytime Category: Furyū The Kasuda Sake Brewing Dance is a rare kind of furyū dance in Akita that replicates the process of small-scale sake brewing. Its origin goes back further than 1855. While singing the Misaina song, the performers wash rice, steam it, mix it with …
Location: Toyokawa, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Kōshin Monument, former Renshōji Temple, Wakeikazuchi Shrine, Kannon Temple, Sakanoue-Hachiman Shrine, Noda Shrine, Tenzōin Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): July 22, August 7, 9, 13, 14, and 17–19, and September 9 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance It is believed that the sasara dance was initiated …
Location: Yasumotodate, Kanezawa, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Kanezawa Hachiman Shrine Date(s): September 14 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Furyū On the evening before the annual festival of Kanezawa Hachiman Shrine, villagers sang improvised songs over the night. They were allowed to sing about anything, including culture and politics or current problems and …
Location: Niida, Jumonji-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Shinzan Shrine, Niida Community Center, and other places in the community Date(s): September 7 and 8 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The origin of Niida Bangaku goes back to ancient times. In the late 9th century, a person from Kyoto, Yahagi Ōinosuke …
Location: Ishikawara, Sagae, Jumonji-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Shinzan Shrine Date(s): September 7 and 8 Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi Furuuchi Kagura, despite the name, consists only of music, without song or dance. It is performed only by children on the occasion of the annual ritual of Shinzan Shrine with big drums, small drums, hand …
Location: Kakunodate-machi, Semboku City Site(s) of performance: Shinmei Shrine, Yakushidō Temple, Satake-Kita Family’s Residence, and other places in the community Date(s): September 7–9.Designations: State-Designated Important Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property; UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi From September 7 to 9, when …
Location: Ishigami, Obonai, Tazawako, Semboku Site(s) of performance: Kakehi Shrine and Ishigami Community Hall Date(s): August 14 and the Saturday closest to November 9 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku According to legends, Ishigami Bangaku was brought here to the family of Taguchi Jinkichi, by some of the survivors of the …