It is said that the Mortar Drum Dance and Gwangwara Dance were undertaken by Lord Sagara, who was appointed as the head of the domain during the Kamakura period (1185-1333), to encourage martial arts. It’s also thought that these dances may have been performed before Lord Sagara entered Japan. In any case, it is celebrated as a traditional dance of victory and triumph, and was widely performed at festivals and fairs, and to pray for rain.