Search
Amano-Iwato Kagura【January 1st】
Amano-Iwato Kagura: A Sacred Performance of Myth and Tradition
This sacred dance, performed as an offering at the shrine, is based on the ancient Japanese myth in which the sun goddess Amaterasu hides herself in the Heavenly Rock Cave (Amano-Iwato), plunging the world into darkness. Through the prayers and ritual dances of the other deities, she is eventually brought back, restoring light to the world.
Every year, as the new year begins at midnight on January 1st, this traditional kagura is performed to the sounds of flutes and drums. It is a cherished ritual, believed to have originated in the early Edo period. According to tradition, it was once performed using divine gestures atop a large single stone known as the “Kagura Stone.”
Around 1892 (Meiji 25), elements of Ise and Izumo-style kagura were incorporated into the original tradition. Although performances were halted during World War II, the kagura was revived in 1987 by the Amano-Iwato Kagura Preservation Society.
One of the few kagura performances in Tokushima Prefecture where dancers wear sacred masks, it is a rare and precious cultural event.
Each year, many people come not only for their first shrine visit of the year but also to witness this powerful and elegant performance. Visitors are also welcomed with around 300 servings of traditional year-crossing soba noodles and sacred sake, generously offered by the local Hashikita Wakaren group.
| Name of Facility | Matsuo Shrine |
|---|---|
| Address | 〒779-4101 徳島県美馬郡つるぎ町貞光49 49 Sadamitsu, Tsurugi-cho, Mima-gun, Tokushima 779-4101 |
| TEL | Tsurugi Town Hall, Exchange Promotion Section：0883-62-3114 |
| URL | https://www.town.tokushima-tsurugi.lg.jp/docs/3452.html |
| Start time | January 1st Midnight of the New Year - 15 minutes |
