Let's go see Kagura ~ Program introduction ~

Kagura was originally performed at the shrine in gratitude for the autumn harvest. The “ceremonial dance” is always performed to welcome the gods at the beginning of any stage performance, and this order is kept even in competitions.

This ritual dance can also be called “Kami mukae”, “Kami oroshi,” and “Shioharai,” and is a dance that purifies the place of Kagura to greet the gods. It has its origin in a myth in which Izanagi no Mikoto returned from the underworld (Yomi no Kuni) to performed a roar in the seawater of Awakigahara, at Tachibana no Komon. It is said that this performance spread through all Japan : east, west, north and south.

The Goddess of the Sun Amaterasu Omikami), who was angry and scared at the violence of her younger brother Susano no Mikoto, hid away in a cave called Iwato.

Then, the country became dark, and there were gods involved in evil deeds. To lure her back out of the cave, another Godddess called Ama no Uzume no Mikoto performed a dance in front of the cave. It worked and Amaterasu got out of the the cave Iwato. Then the world becomes bright again, and the gods danced with joy.

The myth of Amano Iwato is the first myth in Japan. There a six tones and a eight tones rythm, but it is the most sacred program, and it is a heartwarming and happy story that is rare in kagura stories.

One day, pilgrims who visited Miho-jinja Shrine calls a courtier and ask about the auspices of Miho-jinja Shrine. The courtier answered that the God enrished here is Kotoshironushi no Mikoto, and that he was the son of Okuninushi no Mikoto. Then, he described his achievements.

Kotoshironushi no Mikoto saved his father's life so he could rule the country, and taught people the ways of fishing and commerce. After his father became Daikoku, he himself confined himself to Miho's shrine and became the God of Ebisu.

And even now, it is said that when the waves and wind are calm, he appear on the shore and fish. Then suddenly, the god of Ebisu appeared in front of the pilgrims.

The God of Ebisu always perform at festive seats such as the god of fishing and celebration ceremonies. The funny and ludicrous dance that symbolizes the characters of Ebisu is very popular.

Ebisu is a popular and heart-soothing program for its funny and humorous performance. Recently, it has been widely performed at inauguration ceremonies and weddings.

In the reign of Emperor Chuai, a large army attacked from a foreign country. At that time, there was a great demon called “Jinrin” that had wings and could fly freely in the sky. The emperor, together with his companion Takamaru, exterminated the emperor himself with the virtues of "Ama no Kagoyumi" (bow) and "Ama no Habaya" (arrows).

The mask of Jinrin is one of the largest Kagura masks. This mask is known for beeing one of the most frightful of kagura's masks because its large jaws. Also, depending on the kagura group, there are productions in which different type of appearances are made. And the Jinrin flying above the clouds is also a sight to behold, with movements that show freedom of flight.

The highlight is the fast-paced dance that kills the Demon Spider.

It is a story in which Minamoto no Raiko takes the Four Heavenly Kings to defeat Shuten Doji, a demon living in Mt. Oeyama. The Four Heavenly Kings are Watanabe no Tsuna, Sakata no Kintoki, Usui no Sadamitsu, and Urabe no Suetake.

After being bestowed with sacred sake (good for human, poison for demons) by another divinity, Raiko and the Four Heavenly Kings join Shuten Doji's party at the summit of the Oeyama.
Shuten Doji is serving sake with his retainers, demons as well. Therefore, they let them drink sacred sake and, after a moment, they defeated the demons who lost their power due to the merits of the sacred sake.

There are many characters in this program, and the highlight is the scene where they raise their names, show their dances, and finally get confused and fight.

There are many characters that are impressive, and it is a popular program.

(1) Yamato Takeru no Mikoto, who left to pacified the East, was on the way to the elder when two brothers demons of the country of Suruga attacked him. He was set on fire from all sides and was desperate for his life. However, he used the treasured sword, Kusanagi, which was bestowed by his aunt Yamato hime, and defeated them.

(2) In the reign of 12th Emperor Keiko, Yamato Oguna no Mikoto, the second prince, went down to Japan to conquer Takeru Kawakami, who had boasted power in Tsukushi Province and was against the Yamato Imperial Court.
Mikoto dressed up as a woman and approached the warrior, seeing the opportunity for a spree, and defeated the Takeshi.
Before dying, Takeshi said “I thought I was the greatest warrior in Japan, but you are stronger than me. Therefore, I will give you my name. You will be called “Yamato Takeru no Mikoto”.

Those two stories from “Yamato Takeru no Mikoto” are sourced from the Kojiki (1) ＜Eastern Expedition＞ and (2) ＜Kumasei Conquest ＞.

Takiyasha Hime's father, Taira no Masakado, was killed by Fujiwara no Hidesato and Taira no Sadamori. In search of revenge, she prayed to Kifune-jinja Shrine to clear her father's regret. Then, she was given a mysterious witchcraft, transformed into a demon, gathered her followers, and immediately became a noisy person in the world.

Therefore, the warrior Ōya no Tarō Mitsukuni borrowed the power of Abe no Seimei under the imperial order, and defeated the princess.

The mask of the princess in this program is one of the most horrible forms among the demon masks. It is also a sad story in which the grudge of a princess is imbued.

A buddhist monk asks for accommodation in a house in Adachihara Kurozuka, where evil fox (demon) lives, during his pilgrim, with his servants. However, the mistress of the house is an evil fox (demon).

The footmen were eaten, but the monk ran away from life. Eventually, on the orders of the Imperial Court, Miura no Suke and Kazusa no Suke, who were masters of archery, defeated the evil fox (evil woman).

Audience shoul pay attention to the powerful confrontation between a giant snake and Susano-o no Mikoto !