Kanatsu-ryu Ishizeki Shishi Odori ｜Grand Festival of Japanese Folk Performing Arts
"Grand Festival of Japanese Folk Performing Arts"
On September 2 and 3, 2023, the "Grand Festival of Japanese Folk Performing Arts" was held at the Meiji Kinen Hall in Yoyogi, Tokyo. The organizer of the festival, the Japan Folk Performing Arts Association (http://www.jfpaa.jp/index.html), is an organization that has been active in promoting and fostering local performing arts for 50 years.
Over the two days, 26 groups performed songs, dances, and musical performances that have been passed down from generation to generation in various regions. Many of them were new to me, and I was surprised to see such a variety of traditional performing arts in a small country like Japan! The sound of shinobue and wadaiko drums resonated in my soul. Here are some of the performances that impressed me.
Kanatsu-ryu Ishizeki Shishi Odori ｜Aomori prefecture
Origin of Shishi Odori（Deer dance）
It is a traditional dance that has continued for 300 years in Iwate, Aomori, and Miyagi prefectures. The dancers wear colorful costumes and several meter long bamboo on their heads. It is said that this dance has the role of a "yorishiroi" (a guardian deity to whom the gods come down).
There are various theories as to the origin of the dance, and it is impossible to determine. Deer have long been worshipped as messengers of the gods. Therefore, it may be that mountain hunters feared the haunting of deer when they hunted them and made offerings to their souls, which is how the dance came to be performed with the head of a deer.
About Kanatsu-ryu Ishizeki Shishi Odori Preservation Society
The Inukai family of the Date Clan is said to have inherited this ritual art form and danced it in the Kyoho era（1716-1736）. It is also said to have been handed down not only as a Shinto ritual performance but also as a way to train apprentices and as an extra skill for samurai warriors.
The Kanatsu-ryu Ishizeki Shishi Odori was first performed in 1773, but due to the war and other factors, successors were unable to train and it ceased to exist around 1955 after the 13th generation. However, a new master was invited and in 2002, it was revived as the 14th generation, and now the 15th generation is active.
