ARTIST

Nakamachi Toramai

Rikuzentakata City, Iwate

The Nakamachi Toramai, a descendant from the Kamaishi Toramai, is said to have originated with the celebratory performance for the inauguration of the city government in 1955. After a long period of suspension, it was revived when they formed the local youth council between 1980 and 1981. Since then, this dance has been rooted in the community and practiced in occasions such as exorcism ritual of koshogatsu (the little New Year).
The great earthquake and tsunami wiped off the entire set of the equipment and killed several members. In the aftermath, however, one tiny tiger costume was found out in the debris, which encouraged them to rehabilitate the dance. The Nakamachi Toramai was eventually resumed by the Nakamachi Kizunanokai in 2013, with a new set of the equipment afforded by subsidy system.

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