ARTIST
Tatsugane Nenbutsu Yoroi Kenbai Preservation Society
Rikuzentakata City, Iwate
In the Tatsugane Kembai, they dance wearing a mask and an armor, while chanting Buddhist sutra. Its origin is said to be the offering by a monk of Zensho-ji temple on Mt. Tatsugane, Otomo town, at an exhibition of Buddha statue in Edo period (1603-1868). After a suspension in Meiji period (1868-1912), brothers from Setamai, Sumita town conveyed dances of the Tsukizawa Kembai from Yokota community in Rikuzentakata city to the youth in Tatsugane community in Taisho period (1913-1926). Every year, the kembai is performed in front of the residents who gathered at Zensho-ji temple on August 17.