Location: Kado, Mitane Town Site(s) of performance: The house of the guardian of the lion head and Shōanji Temple Date(s): A day in June, August 13, and early November Designation: Town-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance As its name suggests, the Satake-Yamaya Sasara has much to do with Lord Satake, the …
Location: Shiraiwa, Kakunodate-machi, Semboku City Site(s) of performance: Unganji Temple, Shinmei Shrine, and other places in the community. Date(s): August 7, 13–16, and 20. Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance What is characteristic of the lion heads for the sasara dance in this area is that they have large horns. …
Location: Okurazawa, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 14 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The origin of the lion head is unclear, but it is said to be the work of the priest Zezan-Taikaku of Akata-Chōkokuji Temple. The lion head is sculpted with a rough touch. On the upper palate …
Location: Arasawa, Yashima-machi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): January 1, August 13 and 14, and December 31 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Dai-Kagura This kagura is closely linked to Ranbasan-Iwashimizu Shrine and used to be called Ranbasan Kagura. According to the record ‘Ranba Troupe Records’ of 1909, …
Location: Tenjin, Kami-Jinego, Chokai-machi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Gassan Shrine Date(s): 1st Saturday of September Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Furyū In the first half of the 20th century, when Satō Yoshinobu of the community of Jinego-Tenjin visited Innai Silver Mine (in the former Ogachi Town), a traveling troupe from Shikoku showed …
Location: Utetsu, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Hakusan Shrine, Iwaya-Shinzan Shrine, Chōkokuji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): May 5 and August 14–16 and 22. Category: Sasara and Horse Dance According to legend, when the priest Zezan-Taikaku founded Akata-Chōkokuji Temple at Arasawa, he saw three lions playing around in the field. He created …
Location: Ishiwaki, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Anywhere Date(s): Anytime Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Puppet Theater and Kabuki Even though it is called Sarukura Puppet Theater, it is based on Momoyake Puppet Theater, which started in Momoyake (former Chokai Town). Yohachi Ikeda learned puppet theater in Tokyo from puppet master Yoshida, who …
Location: Kami-Omachi, Omagari, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Suwa Shrine Date(s): February 15 (the day of annual festival of Ichi Shrine, a shrine within the premises of Suwa Shrine) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Miko-Kagura and Yudate-Kagura There is a record that the festival of Ichi Shrine was held on January 15, 1826. …
Location: Kurobuchi, Higashi-Yuri-machi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Yasaka Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): January 3, June 15, August 14, and late August Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Kurobuchi Shishimai is a shishimai (lion dance) for the repulsion of evil spirits. It has three numbers: namely, the Sword Dance, House-Entrance Dance, and Creeping …
Location: Aramaki, Kami-Kitate, Akita City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): Anytime Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Aramaki Bangaku is also called Aramaki Bravery Bangaku, as it has many acrobatic and dynamic moves. This practice of bangaku started here at the turn of the 18th century when a lion head, made by a …