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: Yamada, Odate City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine, Tōunji, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The origin of the lion dance of Yamada is believed to go back to the dance performed during the long journey of Lord Satake Yoshinobu …
Location: Kotsunagi, Futatsui-machi, Noshiro 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 When Lord Satake was relegated from Hitachi Province (in present-day Ibaraki Prefecture) to Akita in 1602, some people performed a kind of dance which later became the lion …
Location: Dōji, Ōgita, Noshiro City Site(s) of performance: various places in the community Date(s): August 13, 14, 17, and 20 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance According to legends here, when Lord Satake was moved from Hitachi-Ōta (present-day Ibaraki Prefecture) to Akita in 1602, a lower-class samurai danced to entertain …
Location: Kiriishi, Futatsui-machi, Noshiro City Site(s) of performance: The cemetery, the lion head’s guardian’s house, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 and 14 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance When Lord Satake was relegated from Hitachi Province (in present-day Ibaraki Prefecture) to Akita in 1602, some people …
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 …
Location: Ani-Maeda, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 13 Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Cultural Property Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The Ani-Maeda Shishi-Dance (Ani-Maeda Lion Dance) is said to originate from the dances that were played during the journey of Lord Satake Yoshinobu from Mito (present-day Ibaraki prefecture) to Akita …
Location: Urata, Kita-Akita City Site(s) of performance: Genshōji Temple, Urata Shrine, and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 Category: Sasara and Horse Dance The horse dance at Urata used to have two styles. One was brought from Noshiro by raftsmen of Yoneshiro River and the other from the mountainous area of Gojome and …
Location: Arase, Ani, 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 origin of the Arase Lion Dance goes back at least to the Edo era. It was interrupted by the great famine of 1832, but was fully revived …