More glimpses of unfamiliar Japan

Finally got around to finishing some more masks. This first one is a small Hannya. Made quite a few but the large Hannya are more popula...

Back in June we took some friends to a nightime outdoor kagura festival, the first time in a long time that I had watched some kagura. ...

After the Orochi arrives they then do a series of synchronized movement. Audiences here kn0w very well when some kagura has been ...

Orochi Last night we went to Hamada to see the annual Orochi Spectacle. They close off the center crossroads in town and put on regular kag...

I am a huge fan of kagura, and have seen hundreds and hundreds of dances over the years, most, but not all, Iwami kagura from my local a...

Headed up to Kaze no Kuni, our local hot spring resort in the mountains nearby for a free kagura festival. Its a great venue for...

The two latest masks I completed. Every winter I have a rather optimistic plan to finish lots of new masks. Summers are too humid to m...

When we arrived at the shrine at 10:30 the Shioharae was in progress. This is usually the second dance of the night and purifies the d...

Past midnight and the inevitable Iwato was performed. It is one of my least favorite dances, but the last sequence after Amaterasu has...

Last Saturday was the opening night of our villages matsuri and matsuri begins in the evening with ceremonies in the shrine. Most shri...

Last saturday the villages of Matsukawa had their matsuris, so we started out in Tsuchi, home to one of the best kagura groups in the ...

After the round of ceremonies at Nakano Omoto Matsuri it was time for more dancing and first up was some very young kids dancing Hachi...