A dynamic traditional art of the Nanbu region, brought to life by imitation horses and music
Nanbu Komodori
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Season / frequency
- Every year on September 2 / Every year
- Area
- Aomori Prefecture・Towada City(From Tokyo: approx. 3 h–3 h 30 min · bullet train)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
In Nanbu Komodori, dancers wearing imitation horses around their waists dance to the sounds of drums and hand cymbals. In Horinouchi, the dance is dedicated at the Hōshin Festival at Horenji Temple and has been passed down as a dance depicting the capture of wild horses.
About Nanbu Komodori
Nanbu Komodori is a folk performing art passed down in the former territory of the Nanbu Domain in Aomori Prefecture.
The Komodori of Horinouchi, Towada City, is dedicated at the Hōshin Festival at Horenji Temple.
It is said that performers wear imitation horses around their waists and use dance to depict the capture of wild horses, a scene befitting a region known for horse breeding.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the entrance of ten imitation horses in a line, followed by their formation into a circle.
Roles such as drummers, hand cymbal players, and performers carrying wooden mallets join in, as the dance unfolds with movements reminiscent of a horse.
The performance is also distinctive for its sequence: “Niwa-iri,” “Jikoma,” “Hikaeshikoma,” “Sampō Kōjin,” and “Niwabiki.”
A dynamic traditional art of the Nanbu region, brought to life by imitation horses and music
What to expect
The performance begins with the horse roles, musicians, and performers carrying wooden mallets entering in single file.
Performers form a circle at their designated positions and dance several pieces in sequence.
The dance has been passed down as a dedication performance in which the sight of dancers wearing imitation horses around their waists blends with the sound of drums and hand cymbals.
Location and access
- Address
Towada City
Host municipality 青森県十和田市
This map shows the surrounding area, not the exact venue location.
Dates and season
- Season
Every year on September 2
- Frequency
Every year
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Aomori Prefecture / Towada City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Nearby attractions
十和田市現代美術館
青森県十和田市にある美術館
写真：Angaurits / CC0(resized and reformatted)
Photo source ·Origins and History of Nanbu Komodori
Nanbu Komodori is a folk performing art passed down in various parts of the former territory of the Nanbu Domain.
The detailed origins differ from region to region, but Horinouchi’s Komodori is described as a dance modeled on the capture of wild horses.
In 1974, the performing art of the Horinouchi Nanbu Komodori Preservation Society was selected as an “Intangible Folk Cultural Property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.”
Official information
Nanbu Komodori performed by the Horinouchi Nanbu Komodori Preservation Society is listed in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ “Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties.”
As an example of Komodori traditions passed down in different parts of Aomori Prefecture, this introduction also covers where the dance is dedicated and the order of its pieces in Ōaza Horinouchi, Towada City.
Nanbu Komodori at a Glance
Nanbu Komodori is a folk performing art from the southern part of Aomori Prefecture, in which dancers wearing imitation horses around their waists depict the capture of wild horses.
In Horinouchi, the dance is dedicated at the Hōshin Festival at Horenji Temple, with horse roles, drums, and hand cymbals performing in formation.
Its main features are the sequence of five dance pieces and distinctive movements that incorporate the form of a horse.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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