Sasara and Horse Dance (Koma-Odori)

Kawai Horse Dance and Yakko Dance

Location: Kawai, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 13 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The horse dance came from Fujikoto (in Fujisato Town) and the yakko dance (samurai servants’ dance) from Tsurugata (in Noshiro City). Since those two communities have a long history …

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Higashi-Nagano Sasara

Location: Toyokawa, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Kōshin Monument, former Renshōji Temple, Wakeikazuchi Shrine, Kannon Temple, Sakanoue-Hachiman Shrine, Noda Shrine, Tenzōin Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): July 22, August 7, 9, 13, 14, and 17–19, and September 9 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance It is believed that the sasara dance was initiated …

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Tozawa Sasara

Location: Kami-Hinokinai, Nishiki-machi, Semboku City Site(s) of performance: The cemetery and Tozawa Community Center Date(s): August 7, 13, and 17 in the modern calendar, and August 15 in the lunar calendar Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Bon Dance The sasara dance at Tozawa is performed quite differently from the sasara dance …

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Sekiguchi Sasara Dance

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 …

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Kanezawa Sasara Dance

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 …

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Nagano Sasara

Location: Nagano, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 13–16 Designation: Prefecture Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance According to the scroll of ‘About the Lion King’ from this place, when Lord Satake made the procession to Akita in 1602 after reassignment by the shogunate to …

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Koyamada Sasara

Location: Koyamada, Nishiki-maki, Semboku City Site(s) of performance: Yatsu Kannondō Temple, Anrakuji Temple, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13, 14, 17, and 20 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance It is believed that Lord Tozawa Kanemori, who lived in Kami-Hinokinai (in the former Nishiki Village) in the …

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Horiminai Sasara

Location: Horiminai, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Kōsenji Temple and Horio Shrine Date(s): August 7, 13, and 19 and September 7 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The origin of the sasara at Horiminai is said to go back sometime before the Edo era (1600–1868), but it is also said …

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