“From a closed practice to one that gradually adapts to social change, Shishi-odori continues to evolve without losing its core identity.”
- By Mhwe Kyan
Shishi-Odori is a traditional folk performing art practised mainly in the Tohoku region of Japan, especially in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. Despite the term “Odori”, this is not merely just a dance; it reveals a deeper meaning of prayers, gratitude, and respect for life. Historically, “shishi” referred to the meat of wild beasts hunted in the mountains. And the dance is believed to have originated as a ritual by locals, where hunters comfort the souls of hunted animals, express gratitude, and pray for the regeneration of wild animals.
Tracing back to where it originated, the memorial stone in Yanagawa, Eashi, shows that Shishi-odori had been established and practised for more than three centuries. Documents from the Edo period mentioned that in the Nanbu and Date domains, the Shishi-odori had already developed into a form close to its present style. From the 1950s onward, many local shishi-odori traditions were officially recognised as a folk cultural property by the national government.
Traditionally, shishi-odori was not an open cultural practice. Performances and training were generally prohibited outside the community, and dancers from different regions were permitted to gather or exchange. In some shishi-odori styles, admissions to the group were strictly controlled. New members were required to sign a blood oath, swearing to uphold the group’s commandments. Furthermore, only the eldest sons of the settlement were allowed to participate, reinforcing communal hierarchy.
With the later influence of Buddhism, the dance has also been performed during the Bon Festival, where the locals believe it can comfort not only animal spirits but also the spirits of human ancestors. Today, Shishi-odori continues to be performed as a protection of the community from evil and to pray for abundant harvests.
Photo: colocal.jp, “鹿踊の体験を通して継承の想いを未来につなぐ”
The unique features of shishi-odori include the deer-head masks, the sasara bamboo pole worn at the back, and drums attached to the abdomen, with performers dancing energetically in a group. While singing, each dancer beats their own drum, performing forward movements, turns and jumps in a group dance. The upper body sways widely back and forth, with the strong jumping or stepping steps moving in lines or forming circular patterns.
Attire of Shishi-odori Performers and the Sasara (Himorogi)
Shishi-odori performers wear hakama and costumes made primarily of hemp, a material traditionally associated with ritual purity. A key feature of the attire is the Kuyō no Mon, a family crest linked to the Date clan.
Another feature of Shishi-odori is the sasara, a bamboo pole approximately three meters long, worn upright on the dancer’s back. The sasara is wrapped in white paper, visually resembling ritual implements used in Shinto practices. The sasara is believed to function as a “himorogi”, a sacred object that serves as a yorishiro, or a temporary dwelling place for deities. By extending upward toward the sky, the sasara symbolically connects the human world with the divine, inviting the gods to descend during the performance. This ritual function is comparable to the ōnusa, a purification wand used by Shinto priests, which consists of hemp fibers or paper streamers attached to a stick and waved to purify spaces. In Shishi-odori, performers also strike the ground with the sasara, a gesture believed to calm the land and drive away evil spirits.
Deer Dance Costume (Sasazaki Deer Dance, Ozan School, Iwate Prefecture)
Photo: Wikipedia
Photo: colocal.jp, “鹿踊の体験を通して継承の想いを未来につなぐ”
In addition, the navy-blue tenugui worn by audience members are items created to support shishi-odori activities. The circular crest printed on the cloth represents the kuyō motif, a symbolic emblem of shishi-odori, while the red stitching is inspired by the seams of the front costume panels (mae-maku). This practice was observed at Honedera Village Shōen Exchange Center (骨寺村荘園交流館).
Photo: Michinoku Deer Dance Festival,
Visit Miyagi official website
Photo: Hanamaki Festival float,
Travel to Tohoku official website,
Michinoku Deer Dance Festival
Around late August or early September, multiple shishi-odori troupes across the region gather together in Kurihara City, Miyagi Prefecture. Kurihara also hosts regular deer-dance events, typically scheduled for weekends in June, with future editions announced through city and tourism websites. In Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture, shishi-odori is featured in local festivals tied to Obon and harvest celebrations in late summer and early autumn. In addition to these large-scale gatherings, many towns invite local troupes to perform at shrine festivals and Obon observances throughout August.
Experience workshop
In Tohoku, deer-dance preservation societies such as the Gyōzan-ryū and Kanatsu-ryū organize open practice exchanges or trial sessions that allow outsiders to join simplified training. There are also structured participatory programs, including recurring workshops, where participants learn basic footwork and drumming from shishi-odori members.
Tohoku Culture Report - Explaining the meaning and Practice of the dance
[Japanese subtitles]
(Entire Story) Shishi-odori at Esashi City, Iwate Prefecture
[Japanese subtitles]
Shishi-odori in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures
[No subtitles]
Morioka Folk Performance Arts
(Shishi Odori Dance Ver.)
[English subtitles]
Osako Andon Festival at Hanamaki City, Southern Iwate
[No subtitles]
Shishi-odori during the Saury Festival at Tokyo Tower
[No subtitles]
Direct Voice from Mhwe Kyan
In an age where many traditions have disappeared, Shishi-odori has been practiced for several hundred years and continues to be carefully preserved today, particularly in Japan’s Tohoku region. What surprises me is that it was not created as entertainment for audiences, but as a ritual rooted in prayer, gratitude, and respect for nature. From a closed practice shared only within the community to gradually adapting to social change, the tradition evolves without losing its core identity. I am also struck by the depth of symbolism, such as every element of the costume, from the deer head to the bamboo instruments, carries meaning and reflects a worldview shaped by nature, ritual, and collective memory. I also realize that its continued survival is not only about preservation, but about relationships between people, communities, and their environment. This led me to question how community-based traditions like shishi-odori balance continuity and change, and what they can teach us about sustaining cultural practices in contemporary society.
How to Access
Access to the Michinoku Deer Dance Festival
Sanno Historic Site Park Ayame Garden,
Ichihasamasaka, Sanno, Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture
BY PUBLIC TRANSIT
2 hours and 30 minutes by Shinkansen from Akita to Sendai Station
70 minutes by bus from Sendai Station.
Board the Ichihasama Line bus bound for Ichihasama Sogo Shisho-mae. The destination is a 5-minute walk from the bus stop.
Access to the Hanamaki Festival
Kamimachi Area, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
From Hanamaki Station, the Kamimachi festival area is within walking distance
34th Michinoku deer dance festival. (n.d.). Visit Miyagi. https://visitmiyagi.com/events_festivals/the-34th-michinoku-deer-dance-festival/
Colocal: think-japan local action. (n.d.). Colocal. https://colocal.jp/topics/think-japan/local-action/20211126_145002.html
d-museum: Shishi-odori (deer dance). (n.d.). Kokugakuin Univ. Museum of Ethnology. https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=8940
Iwate cultural page: ent32. (n.d.). Iwate Prefecture Board of Education. http://www.bunka.pref.iwate.jp/archive/ent32
Shishi-odori Iwate event. (n.d.). Fujiwara no Sato. https://www.fujiwaranosato.com/shishiodori-iwate-event/
Shishi odori. (n.d.). Yoko Gao Mag. https://www.yokogaomag.com/editorial/shishi-odori
Shishiodori Iwate standard. (n.d.). Tohoku Standard. http://tohoku-standard.jp/standard/iwate/shishiodori/03/
Traditional arts report: Shishi-odori. (n.d.). Traditional-Arts.org. https://traditional-arts.org/report/2019/12/23/766/
Tohoku Kanko: attractions: Shishi-odori. (n.d.). Tohoku Kankō (Tohoku Tourism Promotion). https://www.tohokukanko.jp/en/attractions/detail_10013.html