The Iwami Kagura Dance

Spend a few days in Japan and you’ll soon realize that many aspects of life in this archipelago are influenced by its mythological and ancient history, with references to countless gods in nature, festivals, folk stories and even food. A part of Japanese culture where this influence is clear is in its performance arts, with Kabuki and Noh, being the two most popular examples. The Iwami region of Shimane prides itself on their own style of traditional theater called Iwami Kagura, a lively performance full of entertainment, and it’s a must-see for people visiting the area.

The Iwami Kagura Dance

Iwami Kagura was performed in the past at Shinto shrines to welcome and entertain deities, but it did not get much exposure beyond these religious grounds. Nowadays the performances take place all around and even outside Shimane, and can be enjoyed by the general public in roadside stations, town squares, and onsen resorts from Tsuwano to Omori Town. Although the shows are freuquent, careful planning is necessary to catch this historic show.

The Iwami Kagura Dance

Yunotsu Onsen in Oda, is one of the spots where visitors can enjoy Kagura in a solemn shrine setting. Every Saturday night from 8pm to 9pm, Tatsuno-gozen Shrine opens its doors and suits up for a colourful and lively performance courtesy of local amateurs and artists. Although it does take place inside a shrine, the atmosphere is casual and family oriented, and maintains the feel of a community gathering.

The Iwami Kagura Dance

The Kagura performance begins with a band playing, warming up with traditional Japanese tunes. The music leads up to the different acts, but also accompanies the performance as the story progresses. The most common program is the “Orochi” in which the deity Susanoo fights and slays an evil snake known as Yamata no Orochi in order to save Princess Kushi-nada.

The Iwami Kagura Dance

During the hour-long performance various characters come into play, and although the lines are spoken in a form of Japanese that is hard even for the locals, the story is quite comprensible and covers various aspects of the culture associated with Japan: the samurai outfits, colourful masks, sword fights, and an imaginary fishing session adds a touch of comedy.

The Iwami Kagura Dance

The highlight for both children and adults is when the giants snakes come out swirling and take over the stage. As an intense battle breaks out between the wild creatures, they jump towards the audience from time to time and get everyone chanting and clapping with excitement. Some children look in awe at these larger-than-life serpents but worry not, the performance is kid-friendly. Eventually the hero of the night prevails, the snakes are defeated, and with the same traditional tunes playing that started the show, this unique and beautiful Iwami Kagura performance comes to an end.

The Iwami Kagura Dance

Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine World Heritage Site

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Yunotsu Onsen

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Tatsunogozen-jinja Shrine

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