Location: Yokosawa, Ota-cho, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Kotohira Shrine, Hachiman Shrine, and other places in the community Date(s): July 23, August 13, and September 14 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance According to the scroll attesting to its authenticity, the origin of Yokosawa Sasara goes back to 1658. When …
Location: Ouchi-Sankawa, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine, the house of the shrine’s administrator, and other places in the community Date(s): August 14 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Sankawa Lion Dance is a lion dance bangaku under the influence of priest Zezan-Taikaku of Akata-Chōkokuji Temple. While the Honkai School of Bangaku has both a …
Location: Matsubara, Shirasawa, Odate City Site(s) of performance: Yama Shrine, the cemetery, and the open space in front of Matsubara Community Center Date(s): May 12 and August 13 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance This lion dance is a dance of three lions (two males and one female), each performed by one person. At the time …
Location: Tamura, Taiyu, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Tamura Community Center and other places in the community Date(s): August 22 Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi Tamura Bayashi was started in 1957 by creating a new dance with the elements of Bon dance music in Saisai Bayashi performances of nearby communities. Even though it is said to …
Location: Minami-Ainono, Sannai-Hiranosawa, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: The open space in front of Sannai Gymnasium Date(s): August 14 Category: Bon Dance The community of Ainono is in the neighborhood of Ōsawa Village, whose Bon dance had much influence on the Sannai-Ainono Bon Dance. The Sannai-Ainono Bon Dance started in 1952 with a celebratory event. …
Location: Akata, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Shinmei Shrine and Chōkokuji Temple Date(s): August 22 Category: Furyū Shagiri means ‘shutting out.’ It was originally meant to protect shugen ascetics from evil spirits, and later was introduced into Shinto festivals. Akata Shagiri is performed at the joint festival of Chōkokuji Temple and Shinmei Shrine, which was …
Location: Matsuki, Odate City Site(s) of performance: The public cemetery Date(s): August 13 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance This lion dance started in 1735. It is a dance of three lions, each performed by one person. It was a prestigious dance that could be performed in front of Lord Satake. Music is played with drums …
Location: Hayashi-no-koshi, Yonaizawa, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Kumano Shrine Date(s): August 28 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Furyū This dance is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Kumano Shrine. In Yonaizawa (in the former Moriyoshi Town) only Shinmachi has this tradition, and its origin is unknown. It is said …
Location: Hanekawa, Shimohama, Akita City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): 3rd Sunday of September Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi The community of Hanekawa, in the Shimohama area in Akita City, is a very old community. In the middle ages, it was governed by …
Location: Yokooka, Kisakata-machi, Nikaho City Site(s) of performance: The open space in front of the Oyakata House and the place where Anjūji Temple once stood Date(s): August 13, 14, and 26 and the 210th day from the First Spring Day (around September 1) (no longer practiced at the time of survey in fiscal year 2011) …