Kutani Zanzaka Dance

About this event

The 'Zanzaka Dance' of Kutani is one of the 'Furyu Taiko Dances' distributed across Japan, held every year on September 15 during the annual festival of the Kutani district's tutelary deity, Hachiman Shrine. After being dedicated to the shrine to pray for bountiful harvests and the safety of parishioners, performers split into two groups and dance in the yards of local homes to celebrate the deity's festival. Around noon, led by the 'Sakaki (Mikoshi),' followed in order by 'Shishi Shojo,' 'Yamahoko,' 'Omikoshi,' and 'Zanzaka Dance,' they gather in the garden of the chief parishioner representative to perform, bringing the festival to its climax. The dance consists of parts such as 'Kadoduke,' 'Iriha,' 'Kiri,' 'Yori-no-kiri,' and 'Modoshi,' featuring shifting hand and foot movements as well as bachi (drumstick) techniques. In particular, gestures such as kneeling on one knee while extending the other leg far forward and sideways, along with movements requiring a low center of gravity, demand extensive training, and the dancers' skill determines the synchronization of the dance. The dancers consist of 8 people wearing Ichimonji-gasa hats made of Sasatake bamboo and Japanese washi paper. They wear navy-striped Kasuri unlined kimonos with Kaku-obi sashes, tied with light pink Keyaki cords, navy Momohiki leggings, white Tabi socks, and rattan-surfaced Kiriko-geta clogs. They attach flat drums (Shime-daiko) measuring 40 cm in diameter to their waists, wear Tekko arm guards with bells on their hands, and dance holding 24 cm-long bachi drumsticks made of Taraki wood. Singers wear Kamishimo-hakama bearing the shrine crest and sing holding white folding fans; as the dance builds excitement, the surrounding group may also sing in unison. The songs include 'Kadoduke,' 'Shirasagi,' 'Akasaki-gayoi,' 'Wakasa-nobori,' 'Yamabushi,' and others, and the gentle melody of the songs and dance evokes an ancient ambiance. On the day before the annual festival, 'Kasa-zoroi' takes place, where they parade through the village beating drums and dedicate the Zanzaka dance and Sumo wrestling before the altar. On the day of the festival, the Sakaki departs prior to the portable shrine's parade, followed sequentially by the Zanzaka dance, Hoko, floats, Shishi Shojo, and Mikoshi. The procession parades through the village praying for the parishioners' bountiful harvest and family safety.

Venue

Hachiman Shrine

1560-2 Yu, Shin'onsen, Mikata District, Hyogo 669-6821