About this event
"Menburyu," a heroic dance performed wearing demon masks, is a representative folk performing art of Saga Prefecture. According to one theory, its origins lie in victory dances from the Sengoku period, and it is most extensively preserved in Kashima City. The Nanaura Autumn Festival is an autumn festival held in the Nanaura district, where Menburyu is dedicated at three shrines—Toguchi Shrine, Chinju Shrine, and Tenshi Shrine—to pray for good harvests and the fertility of grains. Among them, Tenshi Shrine's "Otonashi Menburyu" and Chinju Shrine's "Hogaura Menburyu" are designated as Saga Prefecture's Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties. The "Michiyuki" procession, featuring flute and drum performances set against rural landscapes, is famous and attracts many photographers.
Official website (Japanese) ↗Venue
Tenshi Shrine
2036 Otonashi, Kashima, Saga 849-1323
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