Kitahiroshima presents
KAGURA
Divine Tales from Japan

Japanese Kagura

Kagura is a traditional performing art that celebrates and expresses gratitude for the bounties of nature.

The ancestors of the Japanese people believed that everything that happened was because of the gods. During the autumn harvest, crops were used as offerings to the gods, and festivals were held all over Japan. These festivals included kagura as a gesture of gratitude to the gods for a plentiful harvest.

It was during this period in history that Shinto Shrines were being built around the country, and kagura spread with it. Today, the art and legacy of kagura continue in many different shapes and forms, passed down from generation to generation from the Shinto priesthood to the local community.

Hiroshima Kagura

The Kagura you will see today is called “Geihoku Kagura”(Northern Hiroshima) and has been preserved and passed along in Hiroshima Prefecture through approximately 150 groups.

Furthermore, numerous competitions have been held and at present, it is the type of Kagura gathering the most attention.

Though the performers have to study and work, they attend practice two to three times a week and perform at festivals and events on the weekends.

There are said to be over 70 kagura plays at present, including prewar period programs and those created during the postwar period.

Musical accompaniment for kagura consists of a large and small drum, a gong, and a flute.
Surprisingly, kagura has no sheet music. Instead, accompanists learn to play by watching and
listening to their predecessors. This is also the reason why kagura music varies from troupe to
troupe.

In addition to spoken dialogue, kagura also contains songs that are chanted during lively dance scenes. These songs are ancient Japanese songs that heavily reference Japan's beautiful landscapes and convey the emotions of the scene.

Yamata no Orochi
A Story of the Desperate Struggle to Grow Rice

This Kagura is a story set in ancient Japan about the peoples’ desperate attempt to protect their rice fields from the ravages of a raging, flooded river. Rice, the staple of the Japanese diet, requires fertile soil, sunshine, and a sustainable, clean water source to flourish.

The eight-headed serpent, Yamata no Orochi, symbolizes the mountains and their plentiful reserves of water, as well as the water that flows from the mountains. Farmers plant rice seedlings in the spring and wait for the autumn, harvest season. However, if the summer is plagued by heavy rains before the harvest season, the rainwater rushes from the mountains and spills into the rice fields, flooding them and ruining the crops. Serious floods like these are being compared to the serpent swallowing a beloved daughter in the story.

Momijigari
A Story Born from One of Japan's Most Beautiful Seasons

This Kagura performance illustrates how much the climates and seasons of Japan enrich the hearts of the Japanese people. Cold winters are followed by warm springs, bringing beautiful pale pink and white cherry blossoms. Each year, small parties are held under the cherry trees, called hanami (cherry blossom viewing parties). Hot and humid summers give way to crisp autumns and their vibrant red maple leaves, or momiji. Similar to hanami, small gatherings are also held under the maple leaves called momiji-gari (autumn foliage viewing parties).

Paid parking is available nearby at Joe's Auto Parks/Sho Tokyo on 350 East 2nd Street for $15 (rates may vary). Metered parking in Little Tokyo is also available and free after 8 pm.