Gion Shrine Autumn Festival "Okunchi Festival" On October 9th, the Gion Shrine autumn festival "Okunchi Festival" took place in Kuraoka ⛩ It was held under a clear, slightly warm sky 🌞 Traditional performing arts were presented, including a kagura dedication, the Usu-daiko drum dance, and yamabushi dialogue rituals ✨ The Usu-daiko drum dance welcomed walk-in participants, and many people joined in 😊 Watching participants from inside and outside the prefecture join local residents to form a circle and perform the same dance is moving every time I experience it 😭 And this year saw the revival of the "Negai-kake Kagura" (wish-offering kagura) 👹 The powerful yet solemn dance, carrying on the original custom called the "Festival of Wish Fulfillment," stirred my heart 💖 Having kagura performed to make a wish is such a wonderful tradition ✨ Everyone, please come to Gokase’s autumn festival next year! Walk-in participation is very welcome 🙌

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage “Ara Odori” Ara Odori was offered on September 28th 🐵 Registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, this Ara Odori captivates viewers with vivid costumes and powerful dance 👀✨ This year the event took place indoors because of rain, which concentrated the excitement! 🔥 The audience was closer to the performance, creating an even more immersive experience 👍 Supporting this tradition is the future of the community ✨ Alongside local adults, children from Sakamoto Elementary performed with serious expressions as they carry the dance forward, earning big applause 👏

📢 "Miyazaki no Kagura" National Noh Theater performance Katsura Kagura Held in On October 29, 2025 (Water), we will Held in a performance of Katsura Kagura, a traditional performing art that has been passed down to Morotsuka Village, at the National Noh Theater (Katsura Sendagaya, Tokyo). Kagura is Dedication with prayers to the gods. Please take this opportunity to experience the mysterious world of dance and sound. 📅 Outline of the performance ・Date: Water, October 29, 2025 ・Opening: 12:30 / Start: 13:30 (~17:40) ・Venue: National Noh Theater (4-18-1 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) ・ Admission fee: Free (* Advance application required * If there are many applications, a lottery will be held) 📖program 1️⃣ Keynote speech (approx. 30 minutes) 2️⃣ Katsura Kagura performance (about 3 hours) 📝 How to apply ・Application period: August 14, 2025 (Thursday) ~ October 6, 2025 (Monday) ・Notification of lottery results: Scheduled to be shipped around Friday, October 17, 2025 📞 Inquiries "Miyazaki no Kagura National Noh Theater Performance" Secretariat TEL: 0985-22-1122 (Mon-Fri) 10 a.m. ~ 5 p.m. (except Holidays) 🔍 What is Katsura Kagura? Katsura Kagura is a kagura that has been handed down to the Katsura Village in Miyazaki Prefecture and has been passed down as a dedication to Katsura Masa Yawata Shrine. The shrine is said to have been solicited from the Kanto region during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and has a mysterious history and tradition that has been passed down to the present day. ⛩️ Timing of Dedication ・ Dai Kagura (Night Kagura) is Dedication irregularly during the relocation of the palace, temple renovation, wish fulfillment, etc. ・ Normally, "Kagura Sanban" is dedicated at the Annual Grand Festival in Spring and Autumn.

Event announcement📣 July has arrived, and summer is here in earnest — a season full of festivals and events. If you’re free this weekend, why not drop by one of the events taking place? 🤗 📌Saturday, July 5 — Shirohebi-hime Festival at the shore of Lake Shikaribetsu in Shikaoicho. This theatrical folk performance, created from Ainu traditions, features a 13-meter white snake and a princess dancing in a dreamlike spectacle. ■Time: 17:30–21:15 ■Free shuttle bus to the venue: A free shuttle will operate from Kanda Nissho Memorial Museum in Shikaoicho to the lakeside venue using the regular bus route. 📌Sunday, July 6 — The 52nd Pyotan Falls Yamabe Release Festival at Satsunai River Park in Nakasatsunai Village. The day starts with the release of yamabe (a local trout), followed by a Poroshiri drum performance, hands-on workshops, food trucks, and ends with a stage-side edamame toss featuring the village’s specialty edamame. ■Time: 10:00–14:00 ■Access: About a 60-minute drive from Obihiro Station Find other summer events on the Tokachi HARE website under “Events.” Please check the homepage at the URL below 😊 It’s been hot every day, so please take care to avoid heatstroke and enjoy a pleasant weekend 🎵 https://tokachibare.jp/event/...

Hello everyone, this ☺ is Kitahiroshima Town in the northwestern part of Hiroshima Prefecture! We, the Kitahiroshima Town Tourism Association, will broadcasting the charm and latest information of our town. Thank you for 💛 following and sharing 【What kind of town is Kitahiroshima Town?】 】 In the northwestern part of the Hiroshima Prefecture, in the West China Mountains Elevation 300 Meter to 800 Meter It is located almost in the center of the Geihoku region, which extends to the basin Highlands, and borders Shimane Prefecture to the north. Fresh greenery in Spring, Clear streams in summer, Autumn leaves in autumn, and Winter sports in winter are crowded with tourists. Since ancient times, it has flourished as a relay point connecting Sanyo and Sanin, and in the Middle Ages, it was also a production area of iron sand. In addition to the many ruins of the Sengoku Warlord Mori clan (Mori-shi) and the Yoshikawa clan, Folk performing arts such as Kagura and Dengaku, beech forests, Wetlands, flora and fauna, etc. It is a town where precious and majestic Nature spreads Nature and rural culture is alive. I want to know more about Kitahiroshima Town! I want to go! For those who say, Please see ✨ the "Roundabout, Kitahiroshima" Home page and each social media

The 3rd India DAY in Sakai✨3rd India DAY in Sakai🎉 😋 Booths will feature Indian food, spices, and sundries, and the stage will showcase a packed lineup including Bollywood dance and traditional Indian dance, as well as Japanese traditional arts such as Japanese taiko drumming!

Every year on May 3rd, the traditional Hayase Children’s Kabuki takes place. This boys’ elementary school children’s kabuki has been passed down for about 150 years. It is said to have started when kabuki performances by children were offered at local temples and shrines in Hayase to appease a cholera outbreak during the Edo period. Hayase Children’s Kabuki Date and time: Saturday, May 3, 2025 (National Holiday) from around 8:30 AM Location: In front of Hayase Hiyoshi Shrine and in front of Zuirin-ji Temple 20-24 Hayase, Mihama Town, Mikata District, Fukui Prefecture (Zuirin-ji) After the children’s kabuki is offered in front of Hiyoshi Shrine, the float will be pulled to Zuirin-ji Temple where another children’s kabuki offering will take place. Because the schedule depends on the conditions of the day, we cannot provide exact times. If you plan to watch the children’s kabuki, please keep your morning free and come early. "Children’s Kabuki" that ties the community together https://www.view-wakasamihama.jp/trip-03-02#article...

Ginji Katsura Rakugo Performance Today, December 15, a rakugo performance by Ginji Katsura, who hails from Nobeoka and is also active in Tokyo, took place🪭✨ This event held the morning show at Kurun and the afternoon show at Kuraokakurara🤗 As a poster, this was my first time seeing live rakugo properly, and I was very excited to watch🤩✨ Rakugo uses almost no props! Performers remain seated, using only a tenugui (hand towel) and a sensu (folding fan), skillfully expressing characters through gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact😯 They make the audience imagine the scene, delivering stories that end with a punchline that makes you laugh out loud🤭 It was truly funny, and I listened with excitement wondering how each punchline would land🤣💫 The scene of eating soba was especially striking. It was incredible—he really made it seem like he was eating. It looked delicious🤤💕 lol In the afternoon, students from Gokase Secondary School also came to watch, and the venue filled with laughter✨ A boy of around five laughed out loud too, and I felt rakugo is a wonderful art that transcends gender and age😳 He kindly agreed to commemorative photos, and both the morning and afternoon shows provided a consistently enjoyable time🥹👏 I hope he will hold another rakugo performance in Gokase soon🤗✨ Thank you very much for today, Ginji Katsura👏👏👏

Ceremony for the Opening of Prefectural Route Taketa–Gokase, Habu Section Today, Friday, December 13, the opening ceremony for the Habu section of the Taketa–Gokase Line took place in the Kuwanouchi area 🤩👏 The Taketa–Gokase Line is an important road that starts in Taketa, Oita Prefecture, passes through Takamori and Takachiho, and ends in Gokase Construction on the Habu section, a part of that route, has been completed, and today’s ceremony marked its opening 👏 First, a Shinto ritual was performed by the priests of Kuwanouchi Shrine and Futono Shrine to celebrate the road’s opening and pray for safety going forward 😌🙏 After that, distinguished guests cut the ribbon, and all the students of Kamigumi Elementary School opened a decorative paper ball, officially opening the road 🎊 Next, as a ceremonial first passage, Kuwanouchi kagura was performed 👹✨ This special kagura is said to be danced only at ceremonies 😳 During the kagura performance, participants released balloons, and many balloons colored the wide blue sky over Kuwanouchi 🎈👋 By the time the rituals concluded, the cold wind that had blown since morning had died down and the sun brought warm, calm weather for the opening ceremony ☀️ We hope the remaining construction is completed smoothly and that everyday life and transportation become more convenient ☺️

Commemorative Celebration for the Registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Today, Sunday, December 1, a celebratory gathering was held at the Ara-Odori Hall in the Sakamoto district to mark the registration of “Gokase Ara-odori” as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in February of Reiwa 3 (2021).👏✨ Because the registration around Reiwa 3 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, holding a celebration then was difficult, so today’s event was finally realized.🥹 After the opening, the ceremony proceeded smoothly with greetings from the Ara-Odori Preservation Society and congratulatory messages from guests, followed by kagami-biraki (sake barrel opening) accompanied by the powerful sounds of Ara-odori drums, bells, and matchlock gun volleys.🍶🔨 Later, Mr. Fujimoto, the lead dancer, gave the toast and the banquet began.👏 It was a wonderful gathering where members of the Ara-Odori Preservation Society, the dancers and their families all shared their various feelings about Ara-odori.😌 During the banquet, the host conducted interviews in which, somewhat shyly, everyone spoke passionately about Ara-odori.🤭✨ When people had enjoyed enough sake and conversation, the event concluded with three cheers of banzai.🙌🙌🙌 In Miyazaki, a land that preserves many traditional performing arts such as kagura, the registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage truly felt like a great achievement.😳 Going forward, we hope these traditional performing arts, preserved and passed down in each district, will continue to be treasured.✨

⛩ Gion Shrine Niiname Festival and Final Kagura Performance 👹 On November 23rd, the Niiname Festival and the final kagura performance were held at Gion Shrine in the Kuraoka district.⛩ First a Shinto ceremony took place, followed by a kagura dedication at the kagura hall.👹 Today we welcomed visitors from overseas and guests who came from Tokyo.😮 The gingko trees at Gion Shrine had turned color, creating a carpet of yellow.😆✨ Gokase Town is getting colder, and it looks like winter is finally arriving.⛄

【October 13 — First Clear Sky in Seven Years!? Sunset Village Festa】 Yesterday, Sunday, October 13, the “Sunset Village Festa” took place at the Gokase Winery event square 🥳👏 Blessed with gloriously sunny weather that felt almost hot ☀️, the Sunset Village Festa had been plagued by rain for years, and this was the first time in seven years the event could be held in the square 😮❗ Vendors from neighboring Takachiho and Yamato towns joined in, and the venue was lively from the very start 🤗 On stage, familiar host “Dancing MC Nagisa Mama” led the program, which featured many acts—drums, dance, kagura, banba dance, practical karate, a performance by Gekidan Munno, a raffle interlude, and more—creating nonstop excitement 🤩💫 Nearby, a sweet potato digging experience ran alongside the festival, with children and adults getting happily muddy as they dug in 🍠✨ It felt like a true autumn event—take your harvest home and enjoy it deliciously 🤤💕 And of course, the headline guest MICA gave a live show that got everyone on their feet 🎤🌟 The crowd kept calling for encores—proof that everyone had a great time 🥳 MICA even said she’d love to come back 🎶 Everywhere you looked, the event was full of smiling faces—truly wonderful and so much fun 😆❤️‍🔥 More events are coming up, so let’s keep enjoying them to the fullest 🤩💪💕

Gion Shrine Autumn Festival “Okunchi” Today, Wednesday, October 9, the Gion Shrine in Kuraoka District held its autumn festival “Okunchi.”🤗 The light rain that fell until yesterday felt like a distant memory under a clear, delightful autumn sky.☀️ Gion-san’s power is truly amazing.👏✨ Even though the festival fell on a weekday this year, visitors from outside the prefecture and local children gathered from the start of the ceremony.😊 We were allowed into the main hall and were able to see the “Urayasu no Mai” dance.🥹 It was a beautiful dance that radiated tradition.✨ The Gion kagura also came with detailed explanations about how it differs from other kagura, which made it even more enjoyable.🤩 The Usu-daiko drum dance invited everyone, including the general public, to join in lively dancing, and the playful exchanges of the Yamaboshi question-and-answer skit added a comedic touch that made people chuckle.🤣 Traditional events can sometimes seem formal and stern, but this festival was anything but that—it was a truly entertaining celebration.💫 After the Usu-daiko dance there was a mochi-throwing event, and the festival concluded with a dedication of the Gion kagura, keeping the atmosphere lively from start to finish.🤗🎉

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage "Ara Odori" on Sunday, September 29 Ara Odori took place on Sunday, September 29 🐵💫 The sunny weather was almost hot and great for photos, but I imagine it was truly tough for everyone who spent the whole day dancing in costume. Well done to all of you 👏 I was amazed to see so many people each memorizing their roles, dances, and songs to perform a single dance together 😳✨ Elementary school students joined in and danced Ara Odori partway through, and it moved me to see this tradition being passed down to people of all ages 🥹 I heard that Ara Odori used to ban women long ago, but even as the form has changed with the times, I felt a strong community spirit to protect the tradition together 💪✨ Today, students from Gokase Junior High School, who hope to share more of Gokase Town’s charm and traditions and make the town more vibrant, spent the whole day filming the Ara Odori on video for us 📸💡 We should be able to share that video soon, so look forward to it 🤗💕

Summer in Okinawa "Eisa" / Speaking of summer in Okinawa, it is "Acer". On July 7th, I went to the Okinawaya Eisa Festival held on Kokusai Street. Eisa is a dance to send the spirits of ancestors to the other world on the Kyu-Bon, and it is an event in which people parade around the village while beating large drums and drums and dancing with their hands on the song sanshin. We also pray for the safety of each family and the safety of their families. The performance of jumping in the second half of the performance was a masterpiece! After this, we will make many jumps. In the heat, this performance is amazing! It is the biggest attraction of the Sakaeguchi Youth Association. At this time, it started to rain, but the performance was completed safely until the end.

Summer in Okinawa "Eisa" / Speaking of summer in Okinawa, it is "Acer". On July 7th, I went to the Okinawaya Eisa Festival held on Kokusai Street. Eisa is a dance to send the spirits of ancestors to the other world on the Kyu-Bon, and it is an event in which people parade around the village while beating large drums and drums and dancing with their hands on the song sanshin. We also pray for the safety of each family and the safety of their families. The boy in the lead was dancing on the side of the road last year, but this year he took the lead and pulled me along. It has become reliable. ^^ I hope that this child will grow up and carry on the traditions of Okinawa. The sound of the Drums heard nearby is powerful and really touches my heart.

Summer in Okinawa "Eisa" / Speaking of summer in Okinawa, it is "Acer". On July 7th, I went to the Okinawaya Eisa Festival held on Kokusai Street. Eisa is a dance to send the spirits of ancestors to the other world on the Kyu-Bon, and it is an event in which people parade around the village while beating large drums and drums and dancing with their hands on the song sanshin. We also pray for the safety of each family and the safety of their families. At the Eisa Festival, youth associations in each region perform dances, so it's great to see various types of performances! It is actively held in various places from July ~ August. It was very hot on this day, but when I heard the sound of Eisa's big Drum and tightening Drum, I wanted to sing with Acer Acer♬ and my blood started to rush ^^ I forgot about the heat!

July 15 (Mon) Gion Shrine Summer Festival⛩️✨ On Monday, July 15, the Gion Shrine in the Kuraoka area held its summer annual festival, affectionately known as “Gion-san.”🎉 The day opened with the Morimaki ritual, followed by a ceremony, kagura performances, the sacred procession, and dance presentations—there was so much to enjoy.😊🎶 Although the weather brought rain at first, true to the spirit of “Gion-san,” a break in the clouds appeared by the time the sacred procession ended.☀️ Despite the rain, people from the neighborhood, across the prefecture and beyond, and even from overseas, came out early in the morning to enjoy the festival.🌍✨ It’s wonderful to see a community festival cherished by locals becoming known to and enjoyed by so many people.😌👏 We hope this tradition will continue to be passed on carefully into the future.

Nice to meet you all and welcome to COOL JAPAN VIDEOS! Ikeda Rural Tourism Corporation. Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture is a Town rich in nature located in the center of Fukui Prefecture, facing the Gifu Prefecture south of the Town. With a population of about 2,200 as of 2024, about 92% of the area of the Towns is occupied by forests. We will send out such Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture recommended Tourist Information, so thank you ◆ What is Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture? ◆ Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture is a scenic region surrounded by beautiful mountains and pristine rivers. It is Restrooms available in Fukui Prefecture and one of the most Heavy snowfall area. National Highway 417 "Kanmuri Pass Road", commonly known as "Crown Road", which shortens the travel distance between Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture Ibigawa by one hour, opened in November 2023. Access from Gifu Prefecture and Aichi Prefecture has become very convenient, and the exchange of people people visiting from outside the region has increased. Restrooms available also have a history of inheriting the culture of Japan's traditional performing arts "Noh play" from ancient times. ◆ Introduction of Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture Sightseeing spot ◆ ◇Tree Picnic Adventure Ikeda Tree Picnic Adventure Ikeda is one of the largest outdoor adventure parks in Japan, Representing Ikeda Town. You can enjoy Athletic activities such as Tree Trekking and Zipline in the mountain forests of the Shizuhara Area of Ikeda Town. The Mega Zipline is 510 Meters long and 60 Meters high, making it one of the tallest in Japan. ◇Michi no Oasis Four Season Terrace It is a tourist exchange facilities that just opened in April 2024. Processing foods made from agricultural products in Ikeda Town and specialty products made by woodworkers are lined up. Meals made with Agricultural products from Ikeda Town are also available. It can also be Use as a Tourist Information provision or as a resting place, making it a great stop during your journey. ◇Kazura Bridge It is a bridge over the Asuwa river valley made by weaving a plant called hardy kiwi with a total length of 44 meters and a height of 12 meters. Restrooms available that if you pledge your love on this bridge, you will be happy forever. ◇Ryusouga Falls It is the only waterfall in Fukui Prefecture designated as one of the "100 best waterfalls in One of the 100 best waterfalls in Japan". The Scene where the 60-Meters-high waterfall falls excitingly stream is a sight to behold, and many tourists Visit it. The stairs are Well maintained, so you can go down to the front of the waterfall. ◇Mount Kanmuri It is a mountain on the border between Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture and Gifu Prefecture, and was selected as one of the "Nature 100 Japan to be preserved in the 21st century". The Elevation is 1,256 Meters, but you can drive to around 1,000 Meters, and it takes about 2 hours to reach the summit from there, so even beginners can easily climb it. ◇Suwa Azuki Shrine The Main hall of the shrine is specified as National Important Cultural Property. At the back of the stairs of the mountain road Precincts the shrine, the "Inari Large cedar" rises one of the most Large cedar Hokuriku region, which is said to be 1,000 years old. ◇Keiryu Onsen Kakasou It is a spring quality that is soft on the skin and is said to be a spring water that promotes beautiful skin at a Onsen Ryokan inn in the center of the Shizuhara Plateau. You can enjoy not only staying at an inn but also a One Day Hot Spring. ◆ Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture Specialty Products ◆ ◇Rice Ikeda Town has a large temperature difference in one day, and we are promoting Nature-friendly agriculture by reducing the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers as much as possible. Ikeda Town is a Town with a reputation for delicious Rice in Rice production area and Fukui Prefecture. ◇ Grated daikon soba Soba noodles made with with Ikeda water is a specialties of Ikeda Town. Grated daikon soba made with spicy grated Grated radish and Salt Dashi has been loved by the Town residents for a long time, and can be tasted at "Soba Township Ikedaya", "Water Wheel" and "Ippuku" in the town. ◆ Introduction of Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture festival and Events ◇ Ikeda Food Cultural Festival It is a popular Events that is celebrating its 16th anniversary in 2023 and is Held in every year in early November. Approximately 60 stores will Stalls in various parts of the Ikeda Town, offering gourmet foods such as Soba buckwheat noodles, new Rice, sweetfish, vegetables, wild vegetables, and Ghibier, as well as woodworking experiences. Other events such as the "Bale-carrying Challenge" will be held. ◇Ikeda Grand Festival It is a festival held at Suwa Azuki Shrine and is held in for three days from June 9 to June 11 every year. Portable shrines Parade around the town, and "Children's Sumo" is also held in in which children of elementary school age and younger participate. ◇Traditional Japanese straw raincoat Dengaku no Umami It is a traditional event held every year on February 15 for about 800 years, and Japan's traditional "Noh" and "Dengaku" dances are Dedication at Kanjinja Shrine. ◆ Introducing Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture Sightseeing spot ◆ Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture is a fascinating Sightseeing spot with rich Nature and history. Enjoy a wonderful trip in Ikeda Town. COOL JAPAN VIDEOS will send out Recommendations for Ikeda Town, Fukui Prefecture, Ikeda Town, so thank you!

Traditional Performing Arts of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture — Usu-daiko Dance The Usu-daiko dance performed at the autumn grand festival of Gion Shrine was once offered on the lunar calendar date of September 9, so it is also called the "kunchi dance," and it has been passed down for more than 400 years. It is said to have begun when members of the defeated Taira clan, driven from Kyoto and wandering in exile, reached the mountain hamlet of Shiiba on their way to safety and, while remembering the glittering capital, danced in the village of Kuraoka. The dance shows a poised, dignified movement within its grace, evoking the hearts of people from the capital, and it is offered each year at Gion Shrine’s autumn festival. <Legendary Events>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the first year of Bunji (1185), near the end of the Genpei conflicts, remnants of the Taira clan who were defeated at the Battle of Dan-no-ura fled into the interior to evade the Genji pursuit. They reached the village of Kuraoka and, on their way to Mt. Shiiba, left the weak, women, and children in the mountains near Kuraoka Hakki because of the steep, treacherous roads. In Genkyu 2, the Kamakura shogunate did not ease its pursuit of the Taira remnants and ordered Nasu Daihachiro Munenaga to hunt down the clan that had fled into the Kyushu Mountains. Receiving the order, Nasu Daihachiro's party entered Kuraoka intending to head for Shiiba, and finding the Taira fugitives in Kuraoka lacking the will to fight, they staged a dance of shared company to comfort them after the long journey, setting aside the victors' arrogance to show compassion for the defeated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The dance described above became the foundation of the Kuraoka Usu-daiko dance, which, after cycles of prosperity and decline and several relocations over the ages, is said to have survived in its present form. Dancing to the beat of drums and bells, performers display dignified movements within an overall elegance. In recent years, the Gion Shrine Usu-daiko Dance Preservation Society, with the cooperation of children from Gokase Nature School and local parishioners, has carried on the dance. Schedule for the Usu-daiko dance: every year on October 9.

Traditional Performing Arts of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture: Kuraoka Staff Technique The Kuraoka staff tradition follows the Ōkuruma school, said to be a martial art founded by Marume Kurando (one of the four greats of the Shinkage tradition) from the Higo Sagara domain. Also called Shinkage Ōkuruma Musō-ryū, documents show the earliest mention of Kuraoka in the early Edo period. After that, the art passed through Mamimahara and Omae in Shiiba Village before returning to practitioners in Kuraoka at the local end of the line. Kuraoka staff techniques use two kinds of staff: the long staff, 6 shaku 2 sun (about 188 cm), and the short staff, 3 shaku (about 91 cm). The forms are basically defensive. There are over thirty paired forms, including long staff versus short staff and staff versus sword. Forms that employ the sword are commonly called shiraha (white-blade). The Kuraoka Staff Preservation Society offers a shiraha dedication at the summer grand festival of Gion Shrine and provides instruction to students at Kuraoka Junior High School.

Traditional Performing Arts of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture: Murono Yoi Kagura The Murono Yoi Kagura at Mikasho Shrine is said to have been handed down during the Meiji era from the Iwato Kagura lineage, specifically the Kuwanouchi Shrine Kagura and the Furudono Shrine Kagura. The sake-straining dance has become a merry performance portraying a farming couple. In the mid-Meiji period, Minosuke Kai, the first head of the Murono district, brought kagura from Furudono to the Konpira-yama festival, central to the Murono and Akatani districts, and passed it down to the present day. The tradition once died out, but it was reformed when kagura was requested for the Tsuhana Tunnel breakthrough ceremony in 1972 (Showa 47). Murono Yoi Kagura schedule: the second Saturday in December

[Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Traditional Performing Arts] Kuraoka Gion Kagura Kuraoka Gion Kagura is a kagura preserved at Kuraoka’s Gion Shrine. Its origins are said to trace back to dances performed in the broad courtyard of the ancient Kogamure Shrine recorded in the Engishiki. In Genryaku 2 / Juei 4 (1185), after the Heike clan’s defeat at the Battle of Dan-no-ura, members of the Heike fled through the Kyushu mountains and reached Kuraoka, then pressed further into the remote mountains toward Shiiba. At that time, court entertainments and sacred music from Kyoto—gigaku, gagaku—and Ise-style kagura that the Heike brought with them blended into the existing local kagura, and over time this fusion developed into a distinctive form. The kagura’s sound is said to have been shaped by a drum made from the trunk of a walnut tree grown in the hidden recesses of Mt. Shiraiwa, stretched with deerhide taken from the remote mountains and bound at both ends with hemp twine; a flute made from bamboo with holes bored in it; and graceful, capital-style rhythms and hand clapping. These elements combined into the unique musical pulse of the Kuraoka kagura. In July 2023, the Kuraoka Gion Kagura Preservation Society revived this ancient kagura drum. Kuraoka Gion Kagura schedule: mid-July (Gion Shrine), early October (Gion Shrine), mid-November (Amanatsu Shrine)

Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Traditional Performing Arts: Kuwanouchi Shrine Kagura Kuwanouchi Kagura is believed to have begun in the early Meiji era. A surviving costume is dated Meiji 3, and the shrine’s relocation to Habu in the same year suggests the kagura started around that time. The masks used are mainly the hannya mask, more frequently employed than in other kagura, and the performance is characterized by a faster tempo. The whole community works together to pass the tradition to future generations, putting great effort into training successors. In spring and autumn, the kagura is offered at the Kuwanouchi Shrine grand festival. In January, a night-long kagura dedication prays for a bountiful harvest and the well-being of residents. Kuwanouchi Shrine Night Kagura Schedule…Every year on the second Saturday of January

[Miyazaki Prefecture Gokasecho Traditional Performing Arts] Furutono Shrine Kagura During the Muromachi period, local jinkagura and Iwato kagura were offered together here for rites, but through several revivals Ise kagura became blended in, producing a slower-tempo (roku-choshi) kagura that continues to the present day. The origin of this kagura is the “Amano-Iwato Opening,” and it was performed to pray for a bountiful harvest and household safety. From Taisho 6 (1917) it also included prayers to calm fires; today it additionally includes traffic safety prayers, and a night kagura festival is held every January. Furutono Shrine night kagura schedule…mid-January

Traditional Performing Art of Gokasecho, Miyazaki Prefecture: Ara-Odori (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) The Ara-Odori of Gokase is a style of elegant festival dance that was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property on January 8, 1987 (prefectural designation: May 15, 1962). In February 2021, a group of 41 nationwide “furyu odori” (elegant festival dances), including Gokase’s Ara-Odori, was selected as a candidate for inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. A nomination dossier was submitted to UNESCO in March of the same year, and the dances were officially inscribed on November 30, 2022. “Furyu odori” embodies the spirit of flamboyance and eye-catching elegance. Performers wear elaborate costumes and carry decorative props as they dance to songs and the sound of flutes, drums, and small gongs. Across Japan, 42 furyu odori entries (covering 25 prefectures and 43 municipalities) are designated National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. In Miyazaki Prefecture, Gokase’s Ara-Odori is the only designated example. These dances carry prayers from local communities for protection from calamities, memorials for the dead, prosperous harvests, and rain. Villagers of all ages take part during festivals and annual events. Each locality’s history and natural environment are reflected in its performance, and the dances serve as a vital source of community energy. The Ara-Odori of Gokase is said to have begun in the Tensho era (1573–1592) when Sakamoto Iga no Kami Masayuki, lord of Sakamoto Castle (upstream of the Mikasho River), started the dance to raise his troops’ morale before going to war. Later, in the Keicho era (1596–1615), his grandson Sakamoto Yamashiro no Kami Nyudo Kyukaku established a ritual code for offering the dance to the guardian deity Futakami Daimyojin (now Mikasho Shrine). At that time, it is said that a successor from the temple called shinbochi oversaw funerary rites, and a monkey kept at the temple was also made to join the dance. One theory holds that the dance originated in Sakamoto, in Ōmi Province (modern Shiga Prefecture). However, the Nisshu Takachiho Kokon Jiran-ki (collected in Volume 4 of the Hyuga Local Historical Materials) records that descendants of Sasaki Rokkaku Takayori from Ōmi fled to Takachiho and served the Mitai clan; their descendants later took the names Saho, Sakamoto, and Masaki. The Sakamoto mentioned here is not the Sakamoto of Sakamoto Castle but the Sakamoto from Mukoyama to Kanegase, a separate lineage with its own origins distinct from the Minamoto, Oogami, or Fujiwara clans. Ara-Odori schedule: every year on the fourth Sunday of September

Sanami Shrine Sanbanjo - Held in in November Dedication to the Autumn Festival, the old-fashioned rich Shikisanban is unusual in that three people handle one doll, and the head of the doll used was made in 1820~1860, making it an excellent work of craft. It is performed every year on November 2nd and 3rd in the autumn Festival. 7 p.m. ~ on the 2nd / 8 a.m. on the 3rd~ ■Address Nishi-Izu Town Nishina Sawada, Nishi-Izu Town, Kamo-gun, Shizuoka

This kagura has been handed down since the founding of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and has a history of more than 800 years. It was destroyed by fire, and there is a Tradition that it was used when Minamoto no Yoritomo relocated the palace for reconstruction. The Kagura will be held on December 16 at the Imperial Throne Memorial Festival, and the "Miyajin Song" that was chanted at that time will be played in the north garden of the Maiden, and the dance music "The Dance of the Chief" will also be performed. The appearance of dancing only with a Bonfire is elegant, and the ethereal world of the distant past is Reproduction. (Photography is allowed, but not only flash, but also shutter sound, fill light, and light leakage from the image monitor are prohibited.) Shinto ritual, not just sightseeing)

【Yokohama City】 OTABISHO Yokohama Noh Theater opens at Landmark Plaza! ― Feel free to get acquainted with Noh and Kyogen, Gallery & Shop ー The Yokohama Noh Theater will be closed for two and a half years until June 2026 due to large-scale renovation work. During the closure, in order to let more and more people know about Noh and Kyogen, we will open a place "OTABISHO Yokohama Noh Theater" at the Landmark Plaza in Minato Mirai to introduce Noh and Kyogen. This is the first time in Japan that a facility introducing Noh and Kyogen has entered a shopping mall. At the Landmark Plaza, which has excellent access, please get close to Noh and Kyogen. 《Webinar Summary》 □ Date & Venue Sunday, April 14, 2024 Reiwa 6　 12:15~ Parade Toshi Ryugo Kagura, Raw Wheat DanceNamamugihayashi Preservation Society, Ushigome Lion Dance Preservation Society Route: Sakuragicho Station ~ Moving Sidewalk ~ Sakata's Seed Garden Square 13:00~ "Sanbasou（三番三,三番叟）"Sennojo Shigeyama, Mannnojyo Nomura, etc. Venue: Landmark Plaza 1st floor, Sakata's Seed Garden Square

MOA Museum of Art MOA MUSEUM OF ART This prominent Atami museum holds about 3,500 works focused on East Asian paintings, calligraphy, and crafts, including three National Treasures, 67 Important Cultural Properties, and 46 Important Art Objects. Especially famed is Ogata Kōrin’s masterpiece and National Treasure Red and White Plum Blossoms folding screen (displayed for limited periods), which draws many visitors who wait for its exhibition each February during the plum season. The museum sits atop a hill in Atami on a site of some 70,000 tsubo, and the main lobby and the MOA plaza offer stunning views of Izu Oshima, Hatsushima, and other scenic islands. The grounds include gardens that change with the seasons—cherry blossoms and azaleas in spring, fresh greenery in early summer, and autumn foliage—so you can relax in a resort atmosphere while enjoying both art and nature. Address / 26-2 Momoyama-cho, Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture 413-0006 Phone / 0557-84-2511 Access / About 10 minutes by bus from JR atami station toward the MOA Museum of Art, then get off at the final stop, MOA Hours / 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (last admission 4:00 p.m.) Closed / Every Thursday and on exhibition changeover days. Special open days may apply Admission / Adults ¥1,600; university and high school students ¥1,000; elementary and junior high school students free; senior discount ¥1,400; disability discount ¥800 Parking / 200 spaces (free)