The lion dance is imbued with the wishes for peace and the safety of the local residents. It is said to have been introduced from China about 300 to 400 years ago. The Miyata lion dance, along with the drum dance of Sumoto and the procession of Shimoura, has long been a very famous art form in Amakusa. Usually, two lions appear in a lion dance, but in the Miyata lion dance, there are two pairs for a total of four lions. This is a remnant of a rivalry in the past between two districts to see who had the better lion dance . In those days, it was a serious matter to make a mistake in front of the discerning audience who were carefully inspecting which was the better pair of lion dancers. The dignified expressions on the faces of the children as they perform the Tamafuri lion dance also attract the audience.