Shishimai and Bangaku

Tane Bangaku

Location: Tane, Futatsui-machi, Noshiro City Site(s) of performance: Kumano Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): May 3 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku In the old days, Tane Bangaku was performed as an offering at the annual festival of Kumano Shrine. According to legend, the daughter of the local …

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Chōkaisan Kotaki Bangaku

Location: Kotaki, Kisakata-machi, Nikaho City Site(s) of performance: The community center and other places in the community Date(s): The day before the 2nd Saturday of June (the day before the shrine’s annual festival), August 13, and August 1 in the lunar calendar Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Bangaku of Kotaki …

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Sendō Bangaku

Location: Kami-Sendo, Ugo Town Site(s) of performance: Hakusan Shrine, the lion head keeper’s house, and other places in the community Date(s): Mid-April and the days of Obon in August Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The troupe starts from the lion head keeper’s house to Hakusan Shrine with marching music. Once …

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Kurobuchi Shishimai

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 …

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Aramaki Bangaku

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 …

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Kayagasawa Bangaku

Location: Kayagasawa, Akita City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): Anytime Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Kayagasawa Bangaku consists of shishimai (lion dance) and bangaku. Its beginning goes back to 1781 when the priest Zezan-Taikaku of Akata-Chōkokuji Temple brought shishimai-bangaku here for prayers for bumper crops and …

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Funauchiba Lion Dance

Location: Funauchiba, Tashiro, Higashiyuri-machi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Yamanokami Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): August 13 and 14 and 2nd Saturday of September Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Funauchiba Lion Dance has four lion dances in the strict sense and one bangaku dance: namely the Kado-jishi (Entrance-Visit Lion Dance), Kami-mai (Divine …

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Chikanosawa Bangaku

Location: Higashiyuri-Kurobuchi, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Mitake Shrine, the lion head’s keeper’s house, and other places in the community Date(s): late July and August 7 and 14 (no longer performed as of the time of the survey conducted in fiscal year 2020) Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Chikanosawa Bangaku consists of a lion dance …

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Honkai Shishimai-Bangaku (Maenosawa-kōchū)

Location: Maenosawa, Naka-Hitane, Chokai-machi, Yuri-Honjo City Site(s) of performance: Hitane Shrine, the community center, and other places in the community Date(s): May 5, 1st or 2nd Sunday of September, and mid-November Designation: State-Designated Important Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The name of Honkai Bangaku comes from the name of the priest Honkai, …

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