Lion Dance Bangaku of the Northern Foothills of Mount Chokai

Festival highlights

A highlight is the lion dance, in which the performer holding the lion head moves in time with another performer behind them who manipulates the lion’s cloth.

The dancers repeatedly bring the lion’s teeth together and swing its head vigorously from side to side.

After the lion dance, each district passes down around twenty pieces, including formal dances, sacred dances, warrior dances, women’s dances, and comic dances.

The dance is also accompanied by drums, flutes, and cymbals.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース

Bangaku passed down in a region where faith in Mount Chokai and lion dances thrive

What to expect

Performances take place on a stage set up in places such as a shrine’s worship hall, a room in a private home, or a community center.

A curtain is hung behind the stage, with the backstage area behind it. Performers move between the stage and backstage, raising and lowering the curtain as they go.

The usual order is to perform the lion dance first, followed by several bangaku pieces passed down in each district.

In some districts, performers also parade through the settlement after dedicating a performance at the festival, visiting homes to perform kadashishi.

Location and access

Venue and address

Performances take place in shrine worship halls, rooms in private homes, community centers, and other locations in districts across the northern foothills of Mount Chokai.

There is no single venue; locations vary by district.

Event venue 秋田県由利本荘市,にかほ市 鳥海山北麓の各地区にある神社の拝殿

This map uses the venue name. Check the official guide for the event area and entrances.

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Dates and season

Season

Varies by district.

In some districts, the curtain season opens around New Year or from mid-June through July, and closes between September and December.

Tips for your visit

This bangaku is not an event held all at once at a single venue. It is performed in conjunction with shrine festivals and Bon celebrations in different districts.

If you plan to attend, check in advance which district you will visit and where the performance will be dedicated.

The performance space may be part of everyday community life, such as a shrine’s worship hall, a room in a private home, or a community center.

Follow the guidance at each venue regarding viewing and photography.

Nearby attractions

The surrounding area offers opportunities to experience the nature and history centered on Mount Chokai.

Yurihonjo City lies south of Mount Chokai and west of the Sea of Japan. The Koyoshi River flows along the mountain’s foothills.

Tourism resources are promoted mainly around Chokai Quasi-National Park, including natural scenery, hot springs, seasonal outdoor activities, and historical sites.

Source: 周辺の観光スポット | まいーれ

Origins and History of Lion Dance Bangaku of the Northern Foothills of Mount Chokai

The origins of lion dance bangaku itself are unclear. However, many districts have traditions that they learned and passed down Honkai Shishimai Bangaku, which was spread by the monk Honkai around the Kan’ei era.

Mount Chokai became an object of mountain worship, and bangaku was passed down around several pilgrimage routes on the Akita side.

Kotaki preserves a bangaku mask inscribed with the year 1659, and records from various places indicate that the tradition was already thriving in the 19th century.

Official information

The Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties describes the lion dance bangaku of the northern foothills of Mount Chokai as an “intangible folk cultural property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.”

The official website of Maire, the Yurihonjo City Folk Performing Arts Tradition Center, provides information on bangaku preservation societies in Yurihonjo City and Nikaho City, as well as district repertoires and dedication performances.

Lion Dance Bangaku of the Northern Foothills of Mount Chokai at a Glance

The lion dance bangaku of the northern foothills of Mount Chokai is a form of kagura passed down in districts across Yurihonjo City and Nikaho City, rooted in the mountain worship of Mount Chokai.

Around twenty pieces are passed down, including the lion dance, formal dances, sacred dances, and warrior dances. The tradition is closely tied to local life through performances dedicated at shrine festivals and during Bon, as well as kadashishi.

Dates and venues vary by district, so it is best to decide which place you plan to visit and check its details.