Narukawa no Toramai (Narukawa Tiger Dance)
Category Name:Lion Dance / Tiger Dance / Bull Dance (Tiger Dance)
In Aso City "Tora-mai" is known as "Shishi-mai"when it is dedicated to the gods, but because it is so fearsome, when performed on other occasions it is called "Tora-mai" (Tiger Dance). Narukawa's Tora-mai is a two-person tiger dance (one person dances as the head and one as the tail end) performing "Tamatori" (the tiger tries to catch a ball or lure held by another performer). A performance is held at the Lunar New Year to celebrate and pray for a good harvest.
Municipality
Aso City
Category
Lion Dance / Tiger Dance / Bull Dance (Tiger Dance)
Specific Location
Narukawa (formerly Aso-machi )
Cultural Property Designation
Kumamoto Prefecture Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property November 21, 1961
Performance Date(s)
no fixed date