Edo Sato Kagura

About the Anazawa Tenjin Shrine Festival

The festival of Anazawa Tenjin Shrine in the first year of Reiwa is on August 25 (Sunday).
Edo-style Satokagura can be seen from around 1 PM at the Kaguraden within Anazawa Tenjin Shrine.

The History of Kagura and Edo's Satokagura

Kagura is a performing art that originated in ancient times and is said to have the oldest history among folk performing arts. Its origin lies in performances meant to comfort deities, and it was a dance dedicated to the gods. The term "kamiza," meaning "the seat where the spirit of the deity resides when invited and welcomed," is considered the etymology of kagura.
Kagura, which originated in ancient times, spread throughout Edo city by the early Edo period and transformed into various forms according to the preferences of the Edo common people. One of these is the Edo Satokagura, which was actively performed at the festivals of shrines in Edo and surrounding villages. A characteristic of this Edo Satokagura is that it was performed as a pantomime with masks, primarily based on themes from mythology. It is also noteworthy that the performers were professional kagura artists.
Currently, four Edo Satokagura traditions are preserved in Tokyo. They are the Mamiya Society (Shinagawa Ward), Wakayama Society (Taito Ward), Matsumoto Society (Arakawa Ward), and Yamamoto Society from Inagi City. All four societies are designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties by the national government.

Inagi's Edo Period Satokagura

The Edo Sato Kagura of the Yamamoto family, led by Yorichika Yamamoto, is said to have been founded by the first generation, Gonyurishi Hirotaka, in the early Muromachi period, specifically in the 6th year of Oan (1373). The current head of the family, Yorichika Yamamoto, is the 19th generation. It is said that the tradition began when they performed Kagura at the Kuniyasu Shrine, which was located near the Yamamoto residence. The "Edo Meisho Zue" (published in the 7th year of Tenpo) depicts the Kuniyasu Shrine along with the temporary shrine and the buildings of the shrine attendants. It is believed that the building depicted as the temporary shrine functioned as a prayer hall and was used for various prayers and Kagura performances.
In addition to a script for Kagura called "Shinji Shiki Meiroku," which is thought to be a manuscript from the mid-Edo period, the Yamamoto family has preserved numerous documents, including an ancient text titled "Iwai Shrine Suzumori Mikagura Kaku Shiki," recorded in the 6th year of Meiwa (1769), which describes the performances and items used in Kagura. These materials indicate that Sato Kagura has been continuously passed down from the Edo period to the present day. It is also recorded that around the mid-Edo period, 50 performances of Sato Kagura were being held.

Performances of Edo Sato Kagura

Currently, the Yamamoto Yoshinobu company performs over 40 local Kagura plays, and the representative performances among them are as follows.

• Classical Works: Amano Ubihashi, Kōtsu Shunon, Sumie Ōkami, Yakumo Shinkei, Amano Iwatobira, Ken-dama Ikigami, Kami Sui Minokasa, Amano Kaeshiya, Yūken Bunkai, Tenson Kōrin, Kasasa Sakuragari, Yamakai Kōi, Yōzoku Senmetsu, Miwa Kamisugi, Saho Tōbatsu, Kuma So Seibatsu, Tōi Seibatsu, Sakeori Renga, Kyōdai Tanyu, Okuchō Hōraku, Keishin Aikoku, Mihozaki Gyotsuri
• Modern Things: Autumn Leaf Viewing
• [Fairy Tale] Inaba no Sugoto