Location: Sekiguchi, Yuzawa City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): September 16 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance In the early 9th century, General Sakanoue Tamuramaro conducted a northern campaign upon the order of Emperor Kanmu and defeated King Akuro of the barbarians. On …
Location: Yunomata, Uchikawa, Gojome Town Site(s) of performance: The open space in front of Yunomata Community Center Date(s): August 14 Category: Bon Dance The Bon dance at Yunomata has a long history. It appeared in ‘Yūranki’ (Travel Records) by the famous travel writer of the Edo era, Sugae Masumi, in the early 19th century. The …
Location: Yawata, Yuzawa City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): 2nd Saturday and Sunday of September Category: Dai-Kagura According to a local elderly who is well versed in local history, when General Tamura visited this village during his northern campaign, he had an auspicious dream of the god Hachiman. …
Location: Sekiguchi, Yuzawa City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine, Yakushi Shrine, and other places in the community Date(s): 3rd Saturday and Sunday of September (the annual festival of Hachiman Shrine) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi The Yuzawa Gion Bayashi is a festival music at the community of Mitsuseki, played at …
Location: Osawa, Omonogawa-machi Site(s) of performance: Ōsawa Farmers’ Park Date(s): August 17 (held exceptionally on August 15 in AY2012) Category: Bon Dance In the beginning of the Tenna period (1681–1683), 12 villages merged to become Ōsawa Village, and they seem in those days already to have practiced a Bon dance that was very similar to …
Location: Yachi, Tsuchiya, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): January 11 and August 13 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The lion dance here is performed for the opening on January 11 and for Obon on August 13 in various places in the community. It is said to have effects in repelling …
Location: Yokkamachi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: From each district in the town of Yokkamachi to Janosaki Bridge Date(s): August 15 and 16 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi Yokote Bayashi today is not music for a Shinto festival but for the folkloric rituals of Obon. It is played when people …
Location: Nakano, Kanezawa, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Kanezawa Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): September 15 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The Kanezawa Sasara Dance is performed at eight places in the community and then performed in the shrine as divine offerings. It was brought …
Location: Shimo-Nabekura, Hiraka-machi Site(s) of performance: Kashima Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): 3rd Sunday of July Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi Nabekura Bayashi is the music for the rituals of Kashima-Okuri, which used to be practiced on July 19 and now is held on the 3rd Sunday …
Location: Nankata, Omonogawa-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Inari Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): the Saturday, Sunday, or holiday closest to July 16 Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi This is a folkloric performance art of dance music for the Kashima-Okuri rituals, which is organized by a special organization called Nenban, an Inari Shrine’s …