天津司舞 puppet play 那智の田楽 kagura dance 山屋の田植踊 rice planting pantomime 武雄の荒踊 warrior dance 長滝の延年 longevi

Zenkoku Minzoku Geino Taikai, All Japan Folk Dance and Music Convention, Nihon Seinenkan Hall, Tokyo, by Kari Gröhn karigrohncom, 20 November 2010 (Saturday) 1 Tenzushi no mai 天津司舞 (puppet play) 2 Nachi no Dengaku 那智の田楽 (traditional kagura dance) 3 Yamaya no Taue Odori 山屋の田植踊 (rice planting pantomime) 4 Takeo no Ara-odori 武雄の荒踊 (warrior dance) 5 Nagataki Ennen 長滝の延年 (longevity dance) Tenzushi no mai 天津司舞 (puppet play) Tenzushi no mai is a puppet play from Kofu in Yamanashi. It is the oldest puppet play of Japan, in particular, as representing the ancestral existence. The nine puppets are held aloft on poles to perform ritual dengaku music and dance. Two of the dolls play binzasara clappers (Osasara-Sama), two with bigger drums (Otaiko-Sama), one with a smaller one (Otsuzumi-Sama), and one with a flute (Ofue-Sama). Kashima (Okashima-Sama) dances with swords and throws the small sword into the crowd to bring special luck and to protect from evil spirits the one who catches it. Finally, dance the demon (Oni-Sama) and the Princess Hime (Ohime-Sama). The dolls are enshrined at Tenzushi shrine as the Shinto object of worship representing the nine deities of the shrine. The dolls serve as a display for the deities to ensure safe life for the local people and to pray for good harvest. The performances take place after the rice-planting ritual. The origin of the ritual dates back to the 14th century. According to the legend, there were 12 dolls. But two of them went up to heaven and one disappeared in pond called Kagamiike (mirror pond). Nachi no Dengaku 那智の田楽 Originally, Nachi no Dengaku was a traditional field dance honouring the gods after a good harvest. In dengaku-odori the dancers hold binzasara, which is an instrument consisting of 108 wooden plates linked by a cotton cord. In Buddhism 108 is the number of evil passions. These desires disturb wisdom, cause disarrangement, and annoy the mind and body. This traditional dance performed in the town of Nachi-Katsuura in Wakayama Prefecture was introduced to the district from Kyoto 600 years ago. Yamaya no Taue Odori 山屋の田植踊 (rice planting pantomime) Shiwa, Iwate 山屋の田植踊 Yamaya no taue odori is a theatrical presentation which traces the progress of the farming from planting to harvesting: dance of saotome (rice-planting maidens) wearing large flowery hats, boys dressed in women's attire, inari (fox kami of rice), and sanbaso dance (old man, okina). Sanbaso is a prayer to the gods for a bountiful harvest. Sometimes, sanbaso merely imitates or mimics an old man -- a mere mortal's poor imitation of a deity. Sanbaso is also performed to pray for such things as cures for illness and the safe delivery of babies. Sanbaso is noted for the dancer's stamping, which suggests preparing the earth for planting. It begins slowly and builds into a very hypnotic, quick and powerful dance. It is believed that the roots of Sanbaso lie in the myth of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, who hid in the heavenly rock cave Ama-no-Iwato. Sanbaso expresses how the gods descend to earth and is regarded as the most important performance piece among all the Shinto rituals. Takeo no Ara-odori 武雄の荒踊 (warrior dance of Takeo) Takeo no ara odori (Utode no ara odori) is performed in Nakano, Koze and Utode. The dance originated as a victory celebration for the Lord of Takeo han over Arima, lord of Shimabara, in 1530. Nagataki Ennen 長滝の延年 (Longevity Dance), Hakusan Nagataki Shrine, Shirotori, Gujo, Gifu In the past it was thought that dances and singing lengthened life, so performances after major Buddhist ceremonies were called ennen, meaning longevity. Ennen performances have developed in the mid Heian period. Later they declined and survived in only a few places.