Yamaya Taue-odori

Festival highlights

The main highlight is the “Kasa-furi,” in which the Saotome dancers elegantly spin their flower hats.

A variety of scenes follow, including a dance using hoes performed by a young man dressed as a woman and the clown Ippachi; a seed-sowing scene performed by the Okina, the fox, and Ippachi; and “Gokenbun,” in which the young master rides a makeshift horse to inspect the results of the rice planting.

Humorous exchanges and hayashi dances add to the performance, bringing prayer and enjoyment together.

A rice-planting dance that depicts a year of rice farming through song and dance, with spinning flower hats

What to expect

The program begins with an introductory speech and “Sanbaso,” then proceeds through preparing the rice nursery, sowing seeds, the children’s “Naka-odori,” the Saotome dancers, and Gokenbun.

The performance then follows the year’s rice-growing work through song and dance, from “sanaburi preparations,” such as hulling and pounding rice, to “shiroarai,” washing work clothes, and the autumn “inekari” (rice harvest).

Watching the performance from beginning to end lets you experience the whole process of farming, from the start of cultivation to the harvest, on a single stage.

Location and access

Venue and address

Yamaya District Community Center (100 Natsunashiko, Yamaya, Shiwa Town)

Source: 岩手県 - 【紫波町】山屋の田植踊（踊り初め）

Address 100 Natsunashiko, Yamaya, Shiwa Town

Open in Google Maps

Dates and season

Season

Usually in mid-January each year

Frequency

Every year

Accommodation and hotels PR

Nearby attractions

The Yamaya area is also known for places where colonies of Asian skunk cabbage can be seen.

Usually in early May, a separate Asian skunk cabbage festival is held, and the Yamaya Taue-odori may be performed on a special stage.

The date and event differ from the Taue-odori’s first dance, so please check which event you intend to visit.

Origins and History of Yamaya Taue-odori

The Shiwa Town Folk Performing Arts Origins Record introduces the Yamaya Taue-odori as one of the performing arts that existed before the Meiji period.

One theory says it was passed down by people from Kyoto who came to the area to collect placer gold when the Hiraizumi Fujiwara clan was flourishing, but the same article also notes that the truth of this account is uncertain.

This history is regarded as a local account of its origins, not as a confirmed origin.

Source: ふるさと物語 91 『1田植踊』郷土芸能由来記（1）｜ふるさと物語｜企画課｜組織から探す｜紫波町役場

Official information

The Iwate event guide provided the date, start time, venue, and event details for the 2026 first dance.

For inquiries, contact the Lifelong Learning Division of the Shiwa Town Board of Education.

An overview of the cultural property and details of the program can also be found in the Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Database of Nationally Designated Cultural Properties.

Yamaya Taue-odori at a Glance

The Yamaya Taue-odori is a rice-planting dance performed to pray for a good harvest, passed down in the Yamaya area of Shiwa Town.

The performance depicts the year in rice farming through song and dance, from preparing the rice nursery to harvesting. Highlights include the “Kasa-furi,” in which flower hats are spun, and exchanges by the clown character.

The 2026 first dance was held at the Yamaya District Community Center on January 18.