Location: Okashinai, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: The cemetery, Yamanokami Shrine, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 and 16 (no longer practiced at the time of survey in fiscal year 2011) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance Okashinai Lion Dance is believed to have started in the …
Location: Ani-Koya, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Kōya Shrine Date(s): 3rd Sunday of September (the day of annual festival of Kōya Shrine) (no longer practiced at the time of survey in fiscal year 2011) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance Despite the name of lion dance, the lion dance itself …
Location: Hikiji-machi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine, various places in Hikiji-machi, and other places in the former Honjo City. Date(s): 3rd Sunday and Monday of September Category: Sasara and Horse Dance This dance was believed to have effects against evil spirits and the catastrophe of fire. That was the reason why it was …
Location: Izumisawa, Yuzawa City Site(s) of performance: Izumi Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): March 16–18 in the lunar calendar Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Izumisawa Bangaku is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Izumi Shrine. It is said that when the shrine was rebuilt in 1603, the bangaku was …
Location: Tsuchikawa-Miyabarashi, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Hakusan Shrine Date(s): April 17 Category: Shishi-Kagura This lion dance is part of kagura dance, and thus is called shishi-kagura (lion kagura dance). At Hakusan Shrine, both dance and music are performed as an offering on April 17 by the priests. It follows the rituals of kagura, including …
Location: Niiseki, Sagae, Jumonji-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine Date(s): April 24 and 25 Category: Taiko-Furyū and Matsuri-Bayashi Niiseki Children’s Kagura, despite the name, consists only of music, without song or dance. It is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Hachiman Shrine. It is performed only by children (elementary school …
Location: Menagata, Minehama, Happo Town Site(s) of performance: Hikami Shrine (in Sawame Shrine) Date(s): April 29 Designation: Town-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Furyū This is a Furyū dance performed at the annual festival of the local shrine. To the music of drums, Japanese flutes, and gongs, songs are added. People dance in a circle. …
Location: Okubo-Ushiroyachi, Showa Site(s) of performance: Konan Community Center Date(s): May 4 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The Niiseki Sasara is a kind of lion dance with three lions, each performed by one person. However, it is quite unique in using deer heads instead of lion heads. Blue, green, …
Location: Shichizawa, Wakimoto, Oga City Site(s) of performance: Sugawara Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): April 24 and 25 Category: Miko-Kagura and Yudate-Kagura This is a divine maiden kagura that was practiced all over the Oga peninsula, which is a kind of Hot Water (Yudate) Kagura. It is performed mostly for Shinto festivals. …
Location: Uchikawa, Gojome Town Site(s) of performance: Asaminai Community Center, Yunomata Community Center, and Gojome-Shinmei Shrine Date(s): May 5 and the 3rd Saturday of May (Gojome Bangaku Performance Event at the annual festival of Shinmei Shrine) (no longer performed as of the time of the survey conducted in fiscal year 2020) Category: Sasara and Horse …