Location: Shimoyashiki, Nishisawa, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Bugaku Hall, Kasuga Shrine, and other places in the community Date(s): July 1, August 16 and 26, 2nd Sunday of September, and 1st Sunday of December Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku After the Great Famine of Tenmei in 1783 devastated Yashiki Village, …
Location: Fujikoto, Fujisato Town Site(s) of performance: Asama Shrine, Hōshōji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): September 7 and 8 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The Fujikoto-Kamiwaka Good Harvest Dance is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Asama Shrine. As its name states, it …
Location: Fujikoto, Fujisato Town Site(s) of performance: Asama Shrine, Hōshōji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): September 7 and 8 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The Fujikoto-Kamiwaka Good Harvest Dance is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Asama Shrine. As its name indicates, it …
Location: Iwaya-Fumoto, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): Early January and August 16 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Iwaya-Fumoto Shishimai derived from the tradition of Shishimai-Bangaku, and there used to be not only a shishimai (lion dance) but also bangaku. Today, however, only the jimai (preparatory dance before the lion …
Location: Kataho, Nishime, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): April 14 and 15 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Dai-Kagura According to one theory, a kagura dancer was invited here in 1781 and taught villagers how to dance, but according to another theory, villagers from Kataho …
Location: Yagisawa, Okita-Omote, Kami-Koani Village Site(s) of performance: various places in the community Date(s): August 14 and end of September Designation: Village-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Yagisawa Bangaku opens on August 14 and closes with one last performance in late September just before the rice harvest. In the old days, the …
Location: Kamisugi, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Kamisugi Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): 3rd Sunday and Monday of September Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The Kamisugi Daimyo Procession has long been practiced as part of the annual festival of Kamisugi Hachiman Shrine. It is believed …
Location: Ani-Hitachinai, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Hitachinai Shrine and the Hitachinai Community Cemetery Date(s): August 14 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance In the early 17th century, when Lord Satake was reassigned from Hitachi-Ōta (present-day Ibaraki Prefecture) to the domain of Akita, lower-class samurais performed a lion dance to …
Location: Yonaizawa, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Yonaizawa Shrine, Ryūenji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The lion dance at Yonaizawa developed as a prayer for bumper crops. In the late 19th century, youth in the area established an association, Kyōyūkai (Association of Brave Men), and …
Location: Honjō Site(s) of performance: Jōfukuji Temple and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance Despite the name of Honjō Lion Dance, the lion dance itself was lost in the very early years of the tradition, together with horse dance. Only the yakko dance (samurai servants’ dance) and stick …