Oki Dengaku and Niwa no Mai

Festival highlights

Highlights include “the gods’ sumo,” “lion dance,” and either “Dengaku-odori” or “Niwa no Mai,” performed in sequence at the festival.

In Dengaku-odori, dancers wearing dengaku hats and bird-shaped crowns dance while playing binzasara and hand drums.

After the individual dances, a group dance is performed, with the dancers moving in two parallel lines and changing formations as they proceed.

The combination of music, calls, props, and costumes also helps give each performance its distinctive character.

Source: 美田八幡宮の田楽 文化遺産オンライン

Dengaku and Niwa no Mai in Nishinoshima: a traditional festival enlivened by music

What to expect

At the festival, the performances are first presented on a stage after the religious rites.

At Mita Hachiman Shrine, the program proceeds in the order of “the gods’ sumo,” “lion dance,” and “Dengaku-odori.” Dengaku-odori unfolds through Nakamonguchi, Suttende, Ko-zasara, and the group dance.

The performers dance, turning to face all four directions, facing one another, or standing back to back.

Dengaku-odori alone is said to be an elaborate performance at Mita Hachiman Shrine that takes 2 hours.

Location and access

Venue and address

Hiyoshi Shrine (Urago, Nishinoshima Town, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture)

Address Urago, Nishinoshima Town, Oki District, Shimane Prefecture

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Dates and season

Since 2026 is an even-numbered Gregorian year, the event is scheduled to take place at Hiyoshi Shrine on day 9 of lunar month 9.

The festivals at Mita Hachimangu Shrine and Hiyoshi Shrine are held in alternating years.

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Nearby attractions

Nishinoshima Town highlights Matengai and Tsutenkyo as attractions of the Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark.

From Matengai, you can take in views of the Kuniga Coast. Tsutenkyo is said to be a natural bridge formed by coastal erosion and landslides.

It is recommended as a sightseeing destination where visitors can experience the island’s terrain and local way of life alongside the festival.

Source: 島根県：隠岐ユネスコ世界ジオパーク(Oki Islands UNESCO Global Geopark) トップページ（トップ / 観光 / 観光振興 / 観光 / 隠岐の観光振興 / 隠岐ユネスコ世界ジオパークについて）

Origins and History of Oki Dengaku and Niwa no Mai

Oki Dengaku and Niwa no Mai are performing arts passed down in the Mita and Urago districts of Oki Island.

Records in written documents and on ridge tags preserved at the shrine suggest that dengaku at Mita Hachiman Shrine was already being performed by the late Muromachi period.

In the Mita area, parishioners from 7 communities have supported the festival by sharing duties such as dancing, playing music, and building the stage.

Dengaku and Niwa no Mai are still passed down as performing arts presented in alternating years.

Official information

The National Cultural Properties Database and the Bunka Digital Library provide information on the designation, performances, location, and time of year for Oki Dengaku and Niwa no Mai.

Oki Dengaku and Niwa no Mai at a Glance

Oki Dengaku and Niwa no Mai is the collective name for the dengaku and garden dances passed down in Mita and Urago in Nishinoshima Town.

Ritual performances include the gods’ sumo, lion dances, and Dengaku-odori, accompanied by flute and drum music.

2026 is a year when the event is held at Hiyoshi Shrine on day 9 of lunar month 9.

This festival offers a chance to appreciate performing arts with a long history in the community, including their costumes, props, and dance formations.