Location: Koyamada, Nishiki-maki, Semboku City Site(s) of performance: Yatsu Kannondō Temple, Anrakuji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13, 14, 17, and 20 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance It is believed that Lord Tozawa Kanemori, who lived in Kami-Hinokinai (in the former Nishiki Village) in the …
Location: Itado, Minase, Yuzawa City Site(s) of performance: Okumiya Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): August 19 (formally August 1 in the lunar calendar) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Itado Bangaku is a kind of bangaku, or originally a kagura of shugen ascetics that later became popularized and …
Location: Hitoichi, Hachirogata Town Site(s) of performance: On the street in Kamicho, Hitoichi, Hachirogata Town Date(s): August 18–20 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Bon Dance The Hitoichi Bon Dance Festival is held on August 18–20 in the evenings on the street at the center of the Hitoichi District of former Hitoichi Town (now …
Location: Hachiman, Rokugo, Misato Town Site(s) of performance: The open space in front of Motodate Child Center Date(s): August 14 Category: Bon Dance The Bon dance at Motodate is a variation of the Nishimonai Bon Dance. More than 80 years ago, the villagers of Motodate wished to have a Bon dance in their village and …
Location: Ura-Omachi, Hachirogata Town Site(s) of performance: In the open space in front of Ura-Omachi Community Center Date(s): August 14 Category: Bon Dance Ura is an old town that Lord Miura Hyōgono-kami Morinaga ruled from Ura Castle on the nearby hilltop in the 16th century. The Bon dance is now performed on August 14 every …
Location: Naka-Yokomachi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Shinmei Shrine, Hachiman Shrine, and other places in the community Date(s): Sunday before Elderly Day (3rd Monday of September, the day of the annual festival of Hachiman Shrine) Category: Dai-Kagura The principal shrine of this community is Shinmeisha Shrine, devoted to the Sun God (Amaterasu). As Shinmeisha Shrine …
Location: Masuda, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Naka-Nanoka-machi Street and the street behind Yokote Elementary School Date(s): July 8 and August 16 Category: Bon Dance According to legend, when Ogasawara Yoshifuyu from Kai Province (present-day Yamanashi Prefecture) constructed Masuda Castle here in 1363, he sacrificed his own daughter together with a calf to pray for …
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 …
Location: Numadate, Omonogawa-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Numadate-Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): 2nd Sunday of September (the day of the annual festival of Numadate-Hachiman Shrine) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Numadate-Hachiman Lion Dance is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Numadate-Hachiman …
Location: Yabase-Honcho-1-chome, Akita City Site(s) of performance: The area from Hiyoshi Hachiman Shrine to Omachi-2-chome Date(s): mid-September (the day of annual festival of Hiyoshi Hachiman Shrine) Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi While this is the music for the annual festival of Hiyoshi Hachiman Shrine, it is not played in the shrine, but only while the mikoshi …