Izaku Taiko Dance

About this event

Centered around the Nakauchi dancers in beautiful costumes wearing flower hats (hanagasa), the Hirauchi dancers dressed in white robes with drums on their chests and large arrow banners (yahata) on their backs surround them, beating drums to the rhythm of the Nakauchi's gongs and waving their arrow banners in a brave and lively dance. Every year on August 28, it is dedicated at Minamikata Shrine, after which dancing takes place across various areas of Fukiage through August 29. Six districts within Fukiage Town perform on a rotational basis. Designated as a prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property, the highlight is the dynamic dancing of the Hirauchi dancers carrying 6-shaku arrow banners and horo (protective back gear). It is said to have been devised in 1406 (Oei 13) when Hisayoshi, head of the Izaku Shimazu clan, attacked and defeated the Nikaido clan of Tabuse. The Hirauchi dancers carry arrow banners and wings weighing approximately 20 kilograms in total, supported as one by family and local residents fanning them and handing them water. The Nakauchi dancing inside the ring of Hirauchi are elementary and junior high school students dressed in traditional page or female attire wearing beautiful flower hats, sounding gongs and small drums.

Venue

Minamikata Shrine

2147 Yunoura, Fukiage-cho, Hioki, Kagoshima 899-3303