Sendai City History and Folklore Museum | Rekimin Autumn Festival 2025 Photo Report (October 25, 2025) [Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture]

This year marks the 18th annual Sendai City History and Folklore Museum Autumn Festival

On October 25th, 2025, the Rekimin Autumn Festival 2025, sponsored by the Sendai City Museum of History and Folklore, was held at Tsutsumioka Park in the center of Sendai City, where a total of six groups from Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, and Iwate Prefecture performed their traditional performing arts.

Link: Sendai City History and Folklore Museum

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Osawa Rice Planting Dance

This rice planting dance is handed down in Osawa, Izumi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, and is designated as an intangible folk cultural property by Miyagi Prefecture.

Originating as a dance performed on the first day of the New Year to pray for a good harvest in the coming year, it is now performed at shrine festivals and other events.

the second lord of the Sendai domain, Date Tadamune, the "three-tiered box with a top" and "bamboo and sparrow" crests, and even today these crests are dyed on the back and hem of the saotome's kimono.

Link: Cultural Heritage Online – Osawa Rice Planting Dance

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Deer Dance and Sword Dance in front of the river

This folk performing art is passed down in Imozawa, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, and is designated as an intangible folk cultural property by Miyagi Prefecture.

It is said to have been passed down from Ryuhoji Temple in Yahata-cho, Sendai Castle, during the Edo period, and is danced to pray for the souls of ancestors and for a good harvest. It has been passed down as a pair of the deer dance and sword dance

Link: Cultural Heritage Online – Kawamae Deer Dance and Kawamae Sword Dance

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Arahama Isojishi Dance

This dance is said to have existed in Arahama, Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, but the last recorded performance was in 1922, and it had not been passed down for over 100 years.

However, in recent years, the "Society for the Revival of Arahama Iso Shishi Dance" was established. Based on the few documents available, it was discovered that the dance is descended from the same tradition as the Kumanodo Twelve Gods Deer Dance in Natori City, and efforts to revive the dance are underway while learning from its teachings.

Link: Arahama Isojishi Dance Revival Association (Instagram)

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Idemori Hachiman Kagura

Mount Taihaku in Taihaku Ward, Sendai City , and is handed down at Odemori Hachiman Shrine in Moniwa, Taihaku Ward, Sendai City.

"Juniza Kagura" consists of 12 pieces based on ancient Japanese mythology , and is descended from the Kumanodo Kagura in Natori City. It is a designated intangible folk cultural property of Sendai City.

Link: Sendai City Official Website – Idemori Hachiman Kagura

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Ogatsu Hoin Kagura

This is a Kagura dance handed down in Ogatsu Town, Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the national government

It is said that the dance was originally passed down to the ascetics (hoin) of Mount Haguro in Yamagata Prefecture, and the acrobatic movements of the dance, which features demonic women and other creatures, such as climbing up the ceiling of the stage and competing while hanging upside down, captivate the audience.

Link: Cultural Heritage Online – Ogatsu Hoin Kagura

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Oide Hayachine Kagura

"Hayachine Kagura" is generally considered to be a collective term for Take Kagura and Osatsu Kagura, both of which are handed down at Hayachine Shrine (Western Hayachine Shrine) in Oosako-cho, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, but Oide Hayachine Kagura is a type of Kagura that has been handed down at Hayachine Shrine (Southern Hayachine Shrine) in Tsukemauushi-cho, Tono City, on the southern side of Mount Hayachine.

also "Kamihito Kagura" and is designated as an intangible folk cultural property of Tono City.

Link: Oide Hayachine Kagura (YouTube)

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