Jiyoshi Hachimangu Grand Festival: Itsutsushika Deer Dance

About this event

The "Itsutsushika Odori" (Five Deer Dance), handed down in the Jiyoshi area of Shimanto Town, Kochi Prefecture, is a traditional folk performance rooted in the Date culture of the former Uwajima Domain. To the resonant beat of shime-daiko drums, five children dressed as deer portray four male deer competing over a single female deer. Known as a dance passed down since ancient times, the festival embodies the prayers and pride of the mountain village people. The drumbeats echo through the valleys, conveying the spirit of the festival. Dedicated during the Jiyoshi Hachimangu Grand Festival, this dance is a precious event that deeply reflects the local cultural heritage.

Venue

Jiyoshi Hachimangu Shrine

855 Jiyoshi, Shimanto-cho, Takaoka-gun, Kochi 786-0501