Kemanai Bon Dance

About this event

The 'Kemanai Bon Dance', held in Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture, is a traditional Bon dance registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage and designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. It is also known as one of the three major Bon dances of Akita Prefecture. Dancers wear crested kimono (montsuki) or visiting kimono (homongi) and wrap their cheeks with bean-patterned tenugui towels (mameshizuku). Forming an elongated circle around bonfires lit on the street, they perform an elegant dance. There are two types of dances: 'Dainosaka', danced to flute accompaniment and a 2-meter-long drum played by two people, and 'Jinku', danced solely to unaccompanied singing. Paid spectator chairs (500 yen) and photography permits (500 yen) are also sold, and permit holders can enter inside the dance circle to take photos (photo times and rules apply). In case of rain, it will be held at Towada Civic Center Gymnasium.

Venue

Towada Kemanai

Towada Kemproperty / Towada Kemanai, Kazuno, Akita 018-5334