Sakamoto Odori

Sakamoto Odori, passed down in Sakamoto, Otocho, Gojo City, is a that has been carried on in the grounds of Tenjinsha Shrine. The circular dance around the drums and its varied performances bring local memories and the distinctive qualities of folk performing arts to life.

About Sakamoto Odori

Sakamoto Odori is the collective name for Bon dances passed down in Sakamoto, Otocho, Gojo City.

In the grounds of Tenjinsha Shrine, the local tutelary shrine, dancers form a circle around a drum and perform fan dances and hand dances.

One of the furyu dances passed down in the Oku-Yoshino area, this folk performing art carries on the local culture of mountain villages.

It is also designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Nara Prefecture.

Source: 奈良祭時記 / 奈良県 / 国指定文化財等データベース / 大塔町の民俗芸能／五條市

Festival highlights

The highlight is the circular dance that continues around the central yagura drum.

While some lively dances feature open fans, the Masakichi Odori closes the fans and incorporates gestures resembling prayer.

To the singing of the lead singer and the beat of the large drum, a variety of dance styles unfold, including hand dances, fan dances, and dances accompanied by songs sung in call-and-response between men and women.

Source: 阪本踊り(さかもとおどり)／五條市

A circular dance passed down in Oku-Yoshino, brought to life by drums and fans

What to expect

On a Bon night, people gather at Tenjinsha Shrine, and dancing begins around the yagura built beside a hall in the .

The lead singer beats the drum as the dancers form a circle and perform a series of dances.

The dances passed down include the Masakichi Odori, Daimonjiya, Nanchikidokkoi, Hounen Odori, and Tenchu Odori. Depending on the dance, performers either carry fans or dance empty-handed.

Location and access

Venue and address: Held at Tenjinsha Shrine (716 Sakamoto, Otocho, Gojo City).

Address 716 Sakamoto, Otocho, Gojo City

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Dates and season

Season: Every year in mid-August
Frequency: Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

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 Nara Prefecture / Gojo City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)

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Origins and History of Sakamoto Odori

The Masakichi Odori, central to Sakamoto Odori, is said to have begun as a way to mourn the spirit of Nakamura Masakichi, who was executed in place of the villagers.

The story that Masakichi saved the village from danger has been passed down as the origin of the dance.

Bon dances were once held in nearby communities, which invited one another to attend. Today, the tradition is preserved and passed down as a performing art of Sakamoto.

Official information

Basic information about this cultural property is available in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties.

Information about the venue, dances, and traditions is also available in guides from Nara Prefecture and Gojo City.

Sakamoto Odori at a Glance

Sakamoto Odori is a Bon dance passed down at Tenjinsha Shrine in Sakamoto, Otocho, Gojo City. It is characterized by circular dancing to the beat of drums and the lead singer’s calls.

Among the varied performances, including fan dances and hand dances, the Masakichi Odori, held to mourn Masakichi, preserves a local origin story and distinctive gestures.

This folk performing art, designated as a cultural property, offers a glimpse of the mountain-village culture of Oku-Yoshino.