[Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture] "Honkai Lion Dance Banraku" is a nationally designated important intangible folk cultural property that has been protected by the people of the village for 400 years.

In Yurihonjo City, a folk performing art called Honkai Shishi Dance Bangaku, a country-owned folklore performing arts designated as an important intangible folk cultural property. "Honkai Lion Dance Banraku" is said to have been passed down to the Yuri region over 400 years ago, and is still preserved and performed by 13 legendary organizations in Yurihonjo City.

Bangaku (Kagura) is a dance to entertain the gods

What kind of folk art is Banraku?

Bangaku a kagura that was introduced by a mountain worship practitioner (Shugenja, a mountain ascetic) who came to the Tohoku region from Kyoto about 400 years ago, and is only known as "Bangaku."

[ Kagura ] is " Dance to entertain God " (Exhibited by the Agency for Cultural Affairs). People cannot survive without growing crops. What is needed for this is the sunlight, moderate water, and a rich forest that nurtures animals. However, the actions of nature cannot be controlled by human power.

People thought that God in heaven had control over all phenomena, and prayed desperately to deliver his wishes to him. However, I thought that praying alone would not satisfy God, so I danced to make him enjoy.

Kagura began when he danced in front of Amawato.

According to Japanese mythology, Kagura began when a Tenno Uzume Mikoto to attract the attention of Amaterasu Omikami, who had been hidden in Ama-no Iwato .

The story of Amawato is a myth written in Japan's first historical books, the Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki. It is unknown when the actual kagura was dancing. However, the Imperial Family inherited the kagura called Mikagura, a kagura danced only in the Imperial Palace, and continues to this day. Its origins are said to have started in 1002 during the Heian period.

there is a village danced between shrines and local residents Sato Kagura is said to have been derived from Okagura, and this became the prototype of Kagura, which is still danced as a folk performing arts today.

The word kagura was born in Kyoto during the Heian period.

The word kagura appears in the historical book "Kogoshui" compiled in the 9th century, which describes it as " Kagura at Iwashimizu Hachimangu " and " Kamo Special Festival Kagura ," and it is common belief that Kagura was born in the Heian period.

Kagura, which was born in Heiankyo, spread throughout Japan and developed into a unique style that is unique to the area. However, the underlying feeling is that we pray for the Yaoyorozu gods who reside in nature to enjoy themselves, prevent natural disasters from occurring, and that there will be a great harvest and good health.

Kagura spreads to mountain ascetics who train in the mountains, and is transmitted throughout the country

It was the Shugensha who introduced Kagura to the Tohoku region, who trained in the rough mountains. , a unique mountain worship that combines Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto, Enno Gyoja Yamato Katsuragisan in Nara around the 7th century, but this mountain worship gradually spread throughout the country.

Shugendo was a huge boom from the Heian period to the Edo period, but many Shugendosans enter mountains in the Tohoku region, including Mt. Dewa (Hagurosan, Tsukisan, Gassan, Yudonoyama, Yudonoyama, Yamagata Prefecture), as well as Mt. Hayachine (Iwate Prefecture), Osorezan (Oshozan, Aomori Prefecture), and Zao (Zaou, Yamagata Prefecture). In Akita Prefecture, Mount Chokai, which towers on the border with Yamagata Prefecture, and the Oga Peninsula, have become popular as sacred sites for Shugendo.

Yamabushi Kagura, which comes with a lion dance, is a mountain assault that descends to the village and teaches it to the people of the village.

The Shugenists conducted harsh training in the mountains, mainly at shrines and temples, which are the bases of Shugendo, but during New Year's, rice planting and harvesting seasons, they began to descend to the village and interacted with the people of the village. They offered exorcisms, prayers for good harvests, and good health in front of people. At that time, the lion dance and Kagura were performed.

The Shugenists paraded through the village with the lion head at the front, and performed Kagura at the places where people gathered. The kagura danced by these Shugenists is known as Yamabushi Kagura, and comes with a lion dance and kagura. This is why Yamabushi Kagura is also called Lion Dance Kagura.

Yamabushi Kagura, which was performed by the Shugenists, was eventually made possible by the public, and has been handed down as a folk performing arts in Akita Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture, and Iwate Prefecture. Famous items include Neko Bangaku (Nekkobangaku) ​​(Kita Akita City, Akita Prefecture/National Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property) and Hayachine Kagura (Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture/National Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property), but the Honkai Lion Dance Bangaku is Japan's leading Yamabushi Kagura, which has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the country.

Yamabushi Kagura is called "banraku" in Akita and Yamagata, but "Honkai Lion Dance Banraku" is a kagura that focuses on lion dances that are passed down in the northern foot of Mt. Chokai (Yurihonjo City). In "Honkai Lion Dance Banraku", two performers perform a lion dance at the beginning of the Banraku, and it is characterized by a more intense movement than the lion dances in other areas, and more "dents" are held in which the upper and lower teeth are discussed.

It is still passed down and performed in the former 13 villages of Toriumi Town.

The Honkai Lion Dance Banraku was directly passed down to each village in the former Chokai Town by Honkai Gyojin (Honkai-kyoin), Daigoji Sanpoin (Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture/World Cultural Heritage and National Treasure), who came to Mt. Chokai during the Kanei era (1624-1644) to train, and is still passed down in 13 villages in the Chokai district. Lion Dance Lecture in 13 villages , and they have inherited the lion dance band music that is passed down to each other and continue to preserve the tradition.

[Legend Group]

Kamihitanone lecture (Kamihitanone Kochu)

• ・Location: Kaminaone, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Kaminaone Neighborhood Hall
• ・Event date: Late October

Nakanaone lecture (Nakahitanne Kochu)

• ・Location: Nakanaone, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Shinmeisha and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: June 16th / mid-September

Maenosawa lecture (Maenosawa Kochu)

• ・Location: Maenozawa, Nakanaone, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Naone Shrine, Village Hall, and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: May 5th / 1st or 2nd Sunday of September / mid-November

Shimohitanone lecture (Shimohitanone Kochu)

• ・Location: Shimonaone, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Village Hall and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: January 15th, August 16th, December 23rd

Sarukura Kochu

• ・Location: Sarukura, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Village Hall and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: August 15th

Koya Kochu

• ・Location: Shimokawauchi, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Hakusan Shrine and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: April 20th / August 14th - 16th

Second floor lecture

• ・Location: Kurizawa, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Kannondo and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: January / April 17th / August 14th - 16th / December

Amaike Kochu (Amaike Kochu)

• ・Location: Shimosako, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Various locations in the area
• ・Event date: January 3rd / May 1st / August 14th

Yagiyama Kochu

• ・Location: Kamikawauchi Yagiyama, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Fudo Shrine, Village Hall, and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: 2nd Sunday of June

Hirane Lecture (Hirane Kochu)

• ・Location: Hirane, Kamikawauchi, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Hachiman Shrine and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: May 15th / August 15th

Kamimomoya Keikochu (Kamimomoya Keikochu)

• ・Location: Hyakuya, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Mitake Shrine, Village Hall, and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: January 16th / August 15th and 16th / Early November

Shimomomoya Keikochu

• ・Location: Hyakuya, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: In front of Kobo Cave, Village Hall, and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: January 16th / August 15th and 20th / Mid-September

Sake Nabe Kochu (Sagenabe Kochu)

• ・Location: Kamikawauchi Tainabe, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City
• ・Venue: Dainichimiya Shrine and various locations in the area
• ・Event date: January 1st / April 28th / August 13th - 15th / Early December (finished)

The dance shape is passed down, and the performances differ depending on the lecture.

have been posted from Akita Folklore Archives, a survey conducted in 2011

*As of January 1, 1995, six groups have suspended their activities.

*For current activities, please contact the Yurihonjo City Board of Education, Toriumi Educational and Learning Division (telephone number: 0184-57-2881).

" Honkai Lion Dance Banraku " are diverse, including ritual dances such as Oji divine dances such as Mountain God " ( Sword Dance samurai dances such as "Soga" (Yatsushima), and female dances such as " Kenmaki " and " Hashihiki " , as well as performances that are similar to Noh. According to the "Honkai Current Lion Dance Secret Important" that is reported during each lecture, the total number of performances is 48, including 7 Lion Dance, Shiki Dance, 7 Shiki Dance, 8 Kami Dance, 12 Samurai Dance, 7 Women Dance, and Clown Dance, but the total number of performances is still passed down to the present day is around 30 for each lecture.

The "Corumi Lion Festival" is a collection of current active lectures.

" Chokai Lion Festival " is a festival where the currently active "Honkai Lion Dance Banraku Kochu" will be held together, and will be held at the outdoor special venue at the Chokai Health Square in early August. You can enjoy traditional performing arts designated as an important intangible folk cultural property in the country, performed on a special stage set outdoors, in a fantastic atmosphere surrounded by bonfires.

Turtle Sea Lion Festival <Information>

• Name: Toriumi Lion Festival
• Venue: 30 Orikiri, Fushimi-cho, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture
• Time: Mid August
• Phone number: 0184-57-2881 (Yurihonjo City Board of Education, Toriumi Educational and Learning Division)
• Official URL: Yurihonjo City Tourism Association – Toriumi Lion Festival
• access:
  • Public Transportation/Transfer to Yurihonjo Station on the JR Uetsu Main Line, get off at Yajima Station on the Yuri Kogen Railway Chokaisan Roku Line, and take about 11 minutes by taxi
  • Car/Approximately 36 minutes from Honjo IC on the Nihonkai Tohoku Expressway via National Route 108

Google Map

"Maire" allows you to learn about "Honkai Lion Dance Banraku" and experience actual dances.

Civic and Muslim Entertainment Traditional Museum "Maire" a base for folk entertainment that has been passed down in Yurihonjo City, centered around "Honkai Lion Dance Banraku" . The "Honkai Lion Dance Banraku" and the lion head are on display, and on the third Sunday of every month, the "Honkai Lion Dance Banraku" and other banraku from other areas such as Nikaho City are also performed.

Folklore Entertainment Traditional Museum Maire <Information>

• Name: Yurihonjo City Folklore Arts Traditional Museum Maire
• Address: 135-9 Kubo, Fushimi, Toriumi-cho, Yurihonjo City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0184-44-8556
• Official URL: https://mai-re.jp/
• Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
• Admission fee: 200 yen (free for high school students and younger)
• Closed: Monday (or the next day if Monday is a national holiday), December 29th to January 3rd
• access:
  • Public Transportation/Transfer to JR Ugohonjo Station on the Yuri Kogen Railway, Chokaisan Roku Line, get off at Yajima Station on the Yuri Kogen Railway, and take a taxi to get off at Yajima Station on the Chokaisan Roku Line.
  • Car/Approximately 35 minutes from Honjo IC on the Nihonkai Tohoku Expressway via National Route 108

Google Map

The Honkai Lion Dance Banraku was propagated not only to the former Toriumi Town, but also to the Yuri region, such as the former Yajima Town (Yagijima Town, Yurihonjo City) and the Zogata Area (Zogata Town, Nikaho City), and many Banraku, known as the Honkai Style, were born. Currently, the number is decreasing due to the disappearance and decline of the village, but there are many Banraku that have been carefully handed down by the people of the village, such as Chokaisan Hitachimai (Yokooka, Zogata-cho, Nikaho City) being designated as an intangible folk cultural property in Akita Prefecture.