Ritual Dance of Katte Shrine

About this event

The Kanko Dance of Katte Shrine, handed down in Iga City, Mie Prefecture, is a prominent example of rain-praying Kanko dances in the prefecture and belongs to the tradition of Furyu dances that flourished from the mid-Edo period. Characterized by its relaxed tempo, six dancers wearing ochizui decorated with colorful flowers on their backs perform while beating kanko drums fastened to their chests. Unique to this region, this sacred dance captivates onlookers with the impressive sight of the brilliant ochizui blooming gracefully like flowers. In addition, during the procession from the Otobisho, figures dressed as monkeys, red horses, and black horses lead the parade, progressing cheerfully while surprising and teasing children and spectators along the approach. This ritual dance was designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of the prefecture in 1963 (Showa 38), an Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring measures such as record making by the national government in 1971 (Showa 46), an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 2018 (Heisei 30), and was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2022 (Reiwa 4). It is a precious cultural heritage rich in history and tradition, imbued with prayers for warding off plagues and for rain.

Venue

Katte Shrine

481 Yamabata, Iga, Mie 519-1421