ARTIST
Dobutsu Kagura Preservation Society
Hashikami Town, Aomori
The Dobutsu Kagura belongs to the family of kagura called Hakuryu Daigongen which has been practiced by mountain hermits for 300 years. Its dance repertory consists of 12 items. Having faced extinction in more than 20 years of suspension, it was revived by the current community of practitioners in 1975. In the past, it was not only a performance to express the belief concerning people’s daily life, such as rain-making ritual for good luck and warding off evil spirits, but also a popular entertainment.