[Shimane Prefecture] Visit the Yasaka Shrine in Tsuwano, which has preserved the "Sagi-mai" (heron dance), a sacred performing art that has been lost even in Kyoto's Gion Festival, for 400 years.
I went to see the Gion Festival held at Yasaka Shrine in the summer. Here, the "Sagi-mai" (Heron Dance), a sacred ritual that has been discontinued even at the Gion Festival in Yasaka, Kyoto, is still performed. ✨
Yasaka Shrine's origins date back to 1428, when Yoshimi Hironobu moved the shrine from Taikodani Mountain to its current location to protect the castle's northeast direction. In 1528, Yoshimi Masayori is said to have invited a divided spirit from Kyoto.
The Sagi-mai is performed annually during the Gion Festival's procession (July 20th) and return procession (July 27th) in various locations throughout the town. It was originally passed down from the Kyoto Gion Association to the Yamaguchi Gion Association, and was introduced to Tsuwano by Yoshimi Masayori in 1542.
The Heron Dance was temporarily discontinued during the time of Sakazaki Dewa-no-kami, but in 1643, Kamei Koremasa, the second lord of the Tsuwano domain, sent people to the Kyoto Gion Festival to learn the local Heron Dance, thus reviving it. It has been passed down to this day ✨
Now, it is said to be "the only remaining Heron Dance in Japan," and is a nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, as well as registered as a UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage as one of the "Furyu Odori" (elegant dances) remaining throughout Japan 🌍
Before the Heron Dance, the Baby Heron Dance is performed. The Baby Heron Dance performed by local elementary school students is incredibly cute 😳 Innkeepers and shopkeepers also gathered to catch a glimpse of their children's and grandchildren's performance.
The Heron Dance, which begins at 4 PM, departs from the town community center (Touya) and heads to Yasaka Shrine. The procession then circles the town, goes to the temporary shrine, and returns to the town center. 🚶
I heard that the start time has been delayed by an hour in recent years due to the intense heat, but it was still so hot that this time I only went to see three locations: Yasaka Shrine, Takatsuya near the inn, and the temporary shrine.
The Heron Dance consists of 6 dancers (2 each of male and female herons, stick bearers, and drummers), 8 musicians (2 each of drummer, bell, hand drummer, and flute player), several singers, 2 leaders, and 8 guards. While they don't participate in the procession, there are also floats depicting baby herons and large umbrellas.
What kind of bird landed on the bridge?
A magpie, a magpie
Ya, a magpie
The heron crossed the bridge (crossed the bridge?)
The heron crossed the bridge (crossed the bridge?)
Soaked in the autumn rain
To the accompaniment of this song, the dancers flap and spread their wings, performing a dance that represents the courtship behavior of a heron. The heron costume reportedly weighs about 3 kg for the head and about 12 kg for the wings. Amazing, especially in this intense heat…!
Before the Heron Dance, there were many other highlights, such as the drums being played through the town in the middle of the night (I was fast asleep), and the "Two and a Half Times" (which I did get to see) when the head of the group went to welcome the Heron Dance troupe. 👀
The head of the group system (a system where the responsibility for all aspects of the event is taken on a rotating basis), and the way everyone poked their heads out from their houses along the route to welcome the procession, created a wonderful atmosphere of a festival brought together by the entire town. 🥳
#DomesticTravel #ShimaneTourism #ShimaneTravel
#TsuwanoTown #TsuwanoTourism #Tsuwano100Views
#JapaneseHeritage #WorldIntangibleCulturalHeritage #ImportantIntangibleFolkCulturalProperty
#YasakaShrine #GionFestival #HeronDance