Monday, July 21, 2008

Tauebayashi (Rice-planting song & dance)




Yesterday was the Houranenya Matsuri in Gotsu Honmachi, the old town of Gotsu at the mouth of the Gonokawa.

Before the procession started a group from Kawahira, a village between Gotsu and my village, performed a folk dance, the Tauebayashi.

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The gentleman with the cool hair-do was leading the dance. His mask appears to be a version of Hiotoko, but may be another character.


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Both men and women performed the dance which accompanied rice-planting in earlier times. It's purpose was to strengthen the rice.

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