Summer festivals: The dance of the gods

Last week, I went exploring a relatively low-key neighbourhood, Oji to catch a traditional performance called Dengaku at the Oji Shrine. Dengaku is a type of folk dance involving music and spiritual dance associated with the rice production. 

In the past, the dengaku was performed as a prayer for an abundance of the crop. While the main idea of dengaku dance is a dance performed with the movement that is related to agricultural activities such as sowing the seed, planting the seed or chasing the birds that eats the crop, for the Oji Shrine Dengaku, it is considered to be a form of kagura dance. The Kagura dances are sacred dances that are performed with the intention to channel the deities into the human form. 

Therefore, the Oji Shrine Dengaku dance is performed with the movement that suggest the actions of the descended deity. Each step performed by the performers purifies the ground and it is believed that this will encourage a good crop for the year after. 

The performance usually starts with a process of purification around the area where the Dengaku will be performed. And then, the performance will start with the arrival of important guests. 

During the performance, two heavily armoured warriors to keep the evil spirits away during the performance. 

I really love the armour

This warrior has paddy stalks with him

The performers are usually young children around the age between 8-10. Young children were chosen because in the past, young children was believed to be the perfect intermediary between the spirit world and the human world. During the performance the children's faces are hidden under the elaborately decorated hat (花笠-hanagasa). In the background, you can hear the combination music of the flute and drum. 

After the deities departed, the shrine representatives will introduce the children to the audience. I was kind of surprised to see how young some of them are - one was only 6. When the crowd cheered, you can see their faces beaming with big smiles. 

After the deities departed

After the introduction of the young performancers, the representatives of the nearby neighbourhoods will distribute packets of goodies to the audience. The crowd goes back with a happy face and a bag of goodies. I got myself a bag too. Not bad for a day's venture. 

Distributing Summer goodies

The Dengaku was popular in Kamakura period (1185-1333) However, the Dengaku dance was once lost after 1944, but was revived in 1983 by the efforts of one person, Mr Honda. Today, the Oji Shrine Dengaku is considered to be an intangible cultural asset of Kita ward because the level of accuracy of today's portrayal to the original way of performing the Dengaku. 

Every year, we can watch this traditional folk dance at the Oji Shrine on the first Sunday of August at 4:30pm and lasted usually an hour. Unlike some performances, the Dengaku dance is actually quite entertaining. I would probaby go back next year just to watch it again. And this time, without my camera. 

So, have you been able to watch any folk dances in Japan lately?