It is said to have been during the Jokyo era (1684–1688) that the Maeda Shishiodori was taught by Zenkuro, who was a disciple of the supposed originator of the shishiodori, Shirobei of the Motoyoshi district. If this is true, then the dance is the earliest introduction of shishiodori in the city. There survives a scroll that identifies the dance with the Gyozan School, calling it “Gyozan School, Motoyoshi Style.” The scroll records tales related to the style of the dance, and details about how it was introduced and handed down in the region. Though popular in the first half of the Meiji period (1868–1912), it later declined, and from late Meiji period to Taisho period (1912–1926), it was only taught in the Sano area in Akasaki village, and the Kunabatake area in Ikawa village, eventually dying out. It continued to be inactive until the revival of the present-day Maeda Shishiodori in 1977.