Dance and performance in local region

Dancing like Michael Jackson is amazing, but dance is not only pop or R&B, but dance exists everywhere in the world since beginning of human history. Dance is an artistic expression, entertainment for the audience, or tools of social interaction for men, women, elderly and children.

Iwami Kagura – Traditional performance in Shimane

Iwami-kagura is a theatrical dance practiced in western side of Shimane prefecture, located next to the Izumo region. Kagura literally means entertaining the gods. It is a sacred Japanese dance and music ritual dedicated to the gods. Since ancient times, it has been performed at regional festivals as a ceremony to pray for a good harvest and ward off natural disasters.

Iwami-kagura is known for its luxurious and gorgeous costumes, vividly expressive masks, and high-tempo dynamic dances. The most popular story is “Orochi“, a heroic deity Susanoo slaying an evil dragon called Yamata-no-orochi and saving princess Inada.

Dynamic movement of the dragon, rythmical music, and dramatical performance attracts the audience.

Dance in Japan

There are several types of dance in Japan. Traditional Japanese dance is called Nihon-buyou, it is a classical Japanese performance art. You may have heard Noh or Kabuki, these are one type of classical Japanese dance.

On the other hand, dance is usually an enjoyment for common people from long ago. During bon-holiday season in August, annual summer festivals are held in each local area and people dance Bon-odori around the stage or central raised platform (yagura) during the festival. Each every region has unique dance. Some of the examples of popular folk dance in Japan are Awa-odori in Tokushima, Yosakoi in Kochi, Soran-bushi in Hokkaido, Hanagasa-ondo in Yamagata. Yosakoi and Soran got popular in the past several years and being arranged in modern ways by young people. Lots of people come to see these dance festivals from all over Japan and also from abroad.

If you would like to enjoy folk/regional dance performance, summer is the best season to visit local areas.