Takachiho Kagura

Takachiho Kagura is a folk performance passed down in Takachiho Town, Miyazaki Prefecture. It's known as the "Night Kagura of Takachiho" and is dedicated in hopes for a bountiful harvest. Established from the late Heian period to the Kamakura period, it was performed and dedicated by the priests of the Takachiho Shrine until the end of the Edo period. It was then organized into 33 Kagura performances and has been passed down from one community to the next.

Even now, from mid-November to early February of the following year, it is performed overnight in approximately 20 communities within the town. It's a precious component of Japanese culture that continues to be conveyed in modern times and has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the government.

At the Kagura Hall, located within the precincts of Takachiho Shrine, the "Takachiho Kagura" is open to the public every evening from 8 pm. Performers from various communities take turns every day, presenting four representative dances out of the 33 Kagura performances, such as "Tajikarao's Dance" and "Uzume," over the course of about an hour. These dances are compelling to watch, with graceful dances to lure out Amaterasu Omikami, who hid in the Amano-Iwato, and a spirited dance to open the Amano-Iwato.

The Kagura Hall can accommodate about 150 people, and 80 of those spots can be reserved online. The remaining 70 spots can be registered for in-person from 7 pm on the day.