Shishimai and Bangaku

Ishigami Bangaku

Location: Ishigami, Obonai, Tazawako, Semboku Site(s) of performance: Kakehi Shrine and Ishigami Community Hall Date(s): August 14 and the Saturday closest to November 9 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku According to legends, Ishigami Bangaku was brought here to the family of Taguchi Jinkichi, by some of the survivors of the …

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Yamada Lion Dance

Location: Yamada, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: The lion head’s keeper’s house, Ōyama-Tsumi Shrine, and other places in the community Date(s): January 16 and August 14 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Villagers of Yamada learned the lion dance from the neighboring village of Hataya in 1895. As it resembles Kamagadai Bangaku, there were probably some relations …

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Hajikamisawa Bangaku

Location: Hajikamisawa, Osawagoshuku, Daisen City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): August 14 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The bangaku at Hajikamisawa is performed every year only on August 14. As it is an Obon day, its performance is considered to appease the spirits of the ancestors. …

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Itado Bangaku

Location: Itado, Minase, Yuzawa City Site(s) of performance: Okumiya Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): August 19 (formally August 1 in the lunar calendar) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Itado Bangaku is a kind of bangaku, or originally a kagura of shugen ascetics that later became popularized and …

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Yagi Bangaku

Location: Yagi, Masuda-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Yagi Shrine Date(s): September 8 and 9 Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku Yagi Bangaku is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Yagi Shrine. Early in the Edo era (1600–1868), shugen ascetics of Haguro (in present-day Yamagata Prefecture) visited here …

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Numadate-Hachiman Lion Dance

Location: Numadate, Omonogawa-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: Numadate-Hachiman Shrine and other places in the community Date(s): 2nd Sunday of September (the day of the annual festival of Numadate-Hachiman Shrine) Designation: City-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Numadate-Hachiman Lion Dance is performed as an offering at the annual festival of Numadate-Hachiman …

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Yachi Lion Dance

Location: Yachi, Tsuchiya, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Various places in the community Date(s): January 11 and August 13 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The lion dance here is performed for the opening on January 11 and for Obon on August 13 in various places in the community. It is said to have effects in repelling …

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Yasawagi Lion Dance

Location: Yasawagi, Omori-machi, Yokote City Site(s) of performance: The open space in front of Maeda Community Center and other places in the community Date(s): August 14 and anytime Designation: Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Yasawagi Lion Dance was also called Motoki Bangaku. The Kikuchi Family of Motoki (in the former …

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Nakamura Bangaku

Location: Nakamura, Babame, Gojome Town Site(s) of performance: Gojōme Shinmei Shrine Date(s): 3rd Saturday of May (Gojome Bangaku Performance Event at the annual festival of Shinmei Shrine) Designation: Town-Designated Intangible Folkloric Cultural Property Category: Shishimai and Bangaku According to legend, the origin of this bangaku goes back to the 17th century. The existing bangaku mask …

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Sankawa Lion Dance

Location: Ouchi-Sankawa, Yurihonjo City Site(s) of performance: Hachiman Shrine, the house of the shrine’s administrator, and other places in the community Date(s): August 14 Category: Shishimai and Bangaku The Sankawa Lion Dance is a lion dance bangaku under the influence of priest Zezan-Taikaku of Akata-Chōkokuji Temple. While the Honkai School of Bangaku has both a …

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