Kamakura Dancer

Kamakura Dancer

In the city of Kamakura, which is south of Tokyo, I visited the Annual Festival at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine Mikoshi. During this time, portable shrines are carried and horseback archery performed before spectators. On the Ritual Dance Stage inside the precincts, Japanese dancing is performed. Also, the Shinko Festival takes place with a trio of portable shrines and procession of divine horses. (Photos coming up. One per day.)


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More on this dance

The shizuka no mai dance is performed on the ritual dance stage. It reproduces the scene of a master dancer named Princess Shizuka performing a dance before her enemies and expressing her love for the warlord Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune (1159-1189?). Shizuka is a well-known tragic heroine in Japan. Although she was Yoshitsune's beloved, she was forced to abandon him and was taken captive by the warlord Minamoto-no-Yoritomo (1147 - 1199) who was Yoshitsune's enemy. In spite of her plight, Shizuka's dance overflowed with her love for Yoshitsune. This invited the enemy's anger. Shizuka was imprisoned and her children were killed.