Kemanai no Bon-odori

Overview

Kemanai no Bon-odori (毛馬内の盆踊) is a traditional Bon dance with roots in the spirit-sending rituals of the Obon festival, held annually over three days from August 21 to 23 in the Kemanai district of Towada, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture. Designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 1998, it is counted among the "Three Great Bon Dances of Akita" alongside the Nishimonai no Bon-odori (Ugo Town) and the Hitoichi no Bon-odori (Hachirōgata Town).

History

The dance's origins are said to date back to the Nanboku-chō period, giving it a history of approximately 700 years. The Kazuno region had been under the rule of the Nanbu clan since medieval times, and the dance took root in the community as a means of consoling the spirits of fallen warriors and ancestors. Throughout the Edo period it received the patronage of the Nanbu domain, and from the Meiji era onward local preservation societies have safeguarded the tradition. The festival consists of two distinct dances — Dainosaka and Jinku — each with its own origin and character.

Highlights

The most striking feature is the unique attire of the dancers, who cover their faces with white hand-towels (tenugui). This is said to express the sacred nature of the dance as a spirit-sending ritual, while also symbolizing the egalitarian spirit of mourning the dead without distinction of gender. The dance proceeds in two parts: Dainosaka, a solemn dance mourning the warriors who fell at the Battle of Dainosaka Pass, and Jinku, a brisk dance set to the lively Jinku-bushi melody. Both are performed in circles around bonfires. The venue is the Honmachi-dōri street of Kemanai, where the road lined with flaming braziers on both sides fills with dancers, creating a scene of profound ethereal beauty.

Event Information

The venue is Honmachi-dōri street in Towada Kemanai, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture. The nearest station is Towada-Minami Station on the JR Hanawa Line, about a 15-minute walk away. The festival runs annually from August 21 to 23. Dances are performed each evening from approximately 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Admission is free, and visitors are welcome to don the traditional attire and join the dance (the preservation society offers costume rentals; advance reservation required). Late-August evenings in Kazuno can be chilly, so a light jacket is recommended.

Nearby Attractions

Kazuno City lies at the southern gateway to Towada-Hachimantai National Park, with major attractions including Lake Towada, Hachimantai, and Goshogake Onsen close at hand. The Ōyu Stone Circles — a component asset of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Jōmon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan" — are about 20 minutes away by car. Within Kazuno City itself, visitors can also explore Kōrakukan (a working Meiji- and Taishō-era theater designated as an Important Cultural Property) and the Osarizawa Mine Historic Site. As the birthplace of kiritanpo, the area is also the ideal place to enjoy authentic kiritanpo-nabe hotpot.

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