Yamashiro Daidengaku Festival

The Yamashiro Daidengaku Festival celebrates the ancient performing art of dengaku in Yamashiro Onsen. This traditional dance form, deeply rooted in Shintoism, flourished between the 12th and 16th centuries before fading from practice. The festival represents a contemporary revival of this historical art, brought back to life under the guidance of master Nomura Mannojo.

The festival features a diverse ensemble of performers, including local talents and renowned actors, all adorned in exquisite period attire. Through their performances, audiences witness the resurrection of a dance tradition that once played a significant role in Japanese cultural and religious life, now preserved and celebrated for modern generations to experience and appreciate.

The Program

1. Hi-ire / Yu-ire no Gi (Fire and Hot Spring Rite): The festival begins with a ritual involving sacred fire and hot spring water from Yamashiro, establishing the space for the performances.

2. Koshin (Procession: Outbound): Over 140 performers dressed in traditional costumes enter the venue, playing instruments and wearing flower-adorned hats.

3. Karasu Kenbai (Crow Sword Dance): A dance inspired by the Yatagarasu crow from local legend.

4. Warabe Bangaku (Children’s Bangaku): A Bangaku performance performed by local children, arranged in pairs performing coordinated movements.

5. Yugake Bangaku: Adult dancers wearing crow masks perform while waving bamboo branches dipped in hot spring water.

6. Ugaku (Rabbit Dance): A dance representing rabbits, incorporating a distinctive stepping pattern called usagi-ashi. The dance is associated with agricultural prayers.

7. O no Mai (King’s Dance): A performer in crimson robes and a long-nosed mask dances to flute and drum accompaniment, performing a ritual purification.

8. Shishimai (Lion Dance): Performers in yellow and green lion costumes dance to rhythmic accompaniment.

9. Sojo (Formal Invocation): The troupe leader, dressed in white robes and an elder’s cap, recites a formal invocation to mark the arrival of the troupe.

10. Dan-agari: 
Performers reappear, playing instruments as the performance continues.

11. Chigo Mai (Children’s Sacred Dance): Children perform a dance scattering multicoloured flowers, symbolically cleansing the performance space.

12. Sodengaku (Grand Dengaku): A sequence of dances, acrobatics, and juggling accompanied by traditional instruments, culminating with performers scattering symbolic treasures.

13. Rappu (Free Dance): Performers and audience members participate in spontaneous dancing together.

14. Koshin (Procession: Return): The troupe departs, concluding the festival.