Okudari Sugawara Shrine Shishi-mai (Lion Dance)

Active

Category Name:Lion Dance / Tiger Dance / Bull Dance (Lion Dance)

This lion dance originated in 1450 at the Ontake Shrine in Kiyokawa Village, Oita Prefecture, and was passed down to Okudari in 1878 via shrines in Asaji Town and Takeda City with gradual changes in the performance style. The dance is performed at the Okudari Sugawara Shrine festival, where two lions, one male and one female, performed by 3 people inside of each lion, dance back and forth facing children holding fans. After the taiko drum "Uchikomi", they perform "Miya Otachi-no-Mai" and "Rokuchoshi", and then make a procession from the shrine to Okariya. When they reach the torii (shrine gate), they perform four dances called "Torii-koshi," followed by "Rouchoshi" and "Kizami”. When the portable shrine is at rest they perform "Osame" to place the lion inside. The lion dance is dedicated at the Sugawara Shrine festival every year.

Municipality

Takamori Town

Category

Lion Dance / Tiger Dance / Bull Dance (Lion Dance)

Specific Location

Okudari, Takamori Town

Cultural Property Designation

Kumamoto Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property March 26, 1981

Performance Date(s)

Autumn Grand Festival in October

Performance Location

Okudari Sugawara Shrine

Preservation Society

Okudari Shishi-mai Preservation Society