About this event
The Fujinami Sasara Lion Dance is a folk performing art known as a Sanbiki Shishimai (three-lion dance), where three individuals each play one lion. Dedicated to the autumn festival of Tenjin Hikawa Hachiman Gousha, the guardian deity of Fujinami, it is currently performed on the first Sunday of October in the grounds of the shrine and Mitsugon-in Temple. The three lion dancers (female lion, middle lion, and male lion) dance in a group of four together with one sairyo (saruwaka) who acts as both a leader and a clown. In addition, children in roles called Okazaki are positioned at four corners of the dance floor. The Okazaki wear floral hats (hanagasa) on their heads and play by holding rubbing bamboo scrapers called sasara in their hands. The flute is a 6-hole shinobue (bamboo flute) that drives the progression of the entire dance. This flute is handmade referencing those used since ancient times.
Official website (Japanese) ↗Venue
Tenjin Hikawa Hachiman Gousha Shrine
1-282-1 Fujinami, Ageo, Saitama 362-0061
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