Akita Manzai
秋田万歳
"Cool comedy entertainment on New Year's Day, which is similar to Namahage but has several differences" - Fuka Kobori
Embedded Files
Photo: The Akita Manzai (https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/160941)
Historical background
Akita manzai was started around the 17th or 18th centuries due to the importation of the Manzai folk performing art from Edo and Mikawa regions. Thus, Akita manzai originated from Edo manzai (located around the present Tokyo) and Mikawa manzai (located around the present Aichi prefecture). Manzai, a folk performing art that involves visiting houses and making a congratulatory speech for the new year at the entrance, emerged in Nara Prefecture during the Heian period (around 1060). Akita manzai is depicted in the Akita Fuzoku Emaki, a scroll painting created around the 19th century. The Meiji era was its golden age, and 25 groups of the manzai performers were established and performed actively at that time. The performance of visiting houses was enjoyed by many people and called “Machi mawari”, which means walking around the town. However, “Machi mawari” was abandoned due to the declining number of successors. In the present day, the manzai is performed in several places, including the Folklore and Performing Arts Centre in Akita city. The 300-year history of Akita manzai has continued through changes in its performing style.
Characteristics
Akita Manzai is an Intangible Folk Cultural Property (of Akita Prefecture). This is performed by two people called Tayu and Saizo.
Tayu wears a unique attire called 'suoh' with a Samurai-eboshi (a small, folded, black-lacquered headwear) on his head, a sword at his waist, and a folding fan in his right hand, which signifies his higher rank than common people. The attire 'suoh' employs black-dyed hemp cloth with a pattern of two stripes and flying cranes, either white cranes or red-crowned Tancho-zuru cranes, while some attires employ a combination pattern of thick and thin stripes and plum blossom.
Saizo, a partner, wears attire consisting of a black-dyed crested formal kimono with separate pleated trousers, characterised by his headwear. He wears a red beret-like headwear at 'nagashi' musical accompaniment, while wearing a headwear called 'kamasu-boushi' at other 'ban-mono' performances. 'Kamasu-boushi' is a horizontally long headwear resembling a 'kamasu', a square-shaped straw grain container. The headwear has a long, thin chin strap and, on the surface, gorgeous embroideries with plum blossoms or a lion with a peony pattern. Both types of headwear present a somewhat humorous atmosphere fully set off by Saizo's individuality.
Akita Manzai is a ceremony for blessing performed by Tayu and Saizo, a traditional art form that is delivered to households on New Year's Day. In this ceremony, the performers visit to deliver congratulatory verses. They dance and offer celebratory words in appreciation of and in hopes for people’s longevity. Akita Manzai comprises the twelve types of ritual prayer, known as Akita Ondo. Moreover, the performers also satirise those who became famous this year and claim their poor lives in a fun way, using the Akita dialect.
To Know More!
~ Please enjoy watching the actual Akita Manzai via YouTube▶️ ~
Akita Manzai from the 30th Akita Folkloric Performance Art Performance in Akita city (Japanese audio and subtitle only)
The performance of Akita Manzai (Japanese audio and subtitle only)
Akita Manzai / Tatsumi Yoshida, Kyunosuke Kaga by go (Japanese audio only)
The present form of Akita Manzai
Comedians from Akita called Chess (ちぇす) (https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000004514.000029501.html)
(Left: Hiroki WAKAMASTU, Right: Shun HASEGAWA)
The poster of their performance on December 9th in 2025
(https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000004514.000029501.html)
They are working as comedians in Yoshimoto Kogyo, which is the popular entertainment company, but they are the successors of Akita Manzai at the same time.
They are working hard to preserve Akita Manzai. They held the Akita Manzai performance on December 9th in 2025 (Photo below).
Direct Voice from KOBORI
Fuka Kobori (Tokyo)
Studying at Akita International University
Photo by the author
I came to Akita two years ago to study at Akita International University. I had never lived outside Tokyo before that. I have tried to experience various Akita cultures, such as visiting the Namahage Museum and participating in the local festival of moving the mobile shrine. However, I have never heard of Akita Manzai since then.
Akita Manzai sounds cool. Since it is a culture of visiting households on New Year's Day, this is the New Year's version of Namahage. However, there are several differences between the two Akita traditions. One is the atmosphere. Namahage is considered a scary event due to its masks and the tools it uses, while Akita Manzai is a form of comedic entertainment.
I have never experienced visiting houses, so I'm very interested in Akita Manzai, and I plan to watch it at the Folklore and Performing Arts Centre near Akita Station.
Reference
Reference
Akita city's official YouTube channel. (2025, March 21). Akita Manzai (30th Akita folk arts performance) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6jdyP9gQFY
Akita Manzai. (n.d.). Akita International University. https://www.akita-minzoku-geino.jp/archives/ja/604/
Akita Manzai. (n.d.). Cultural Heritage Online. https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/160941
Akita Manzai「Mikoku Manzai・Hanashi Manzai・Akita Ondo・Sakura Manzai」. (n.d.). Masturi no okkake. http://maturinookkake.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-2786.html
AkitaMinzokuGeino. (2011b, January 21). 秋田万歳 [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVFrKgAQMio
Go, Jan. (2021, January 14). Akita Banzai / 1977 / Tayū: Yoshida Tatsumi, Saizō: Kaga Kyūnosuke / Akita Banzai Preservation Society (Akita Manzai / Tatsumi Yoshida, Kyunosuke Kaga) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiQrxJXzuAo
Team Furusato. (n.d.). Preparation for the Akita Hometown Knowledge Test. https://sotsuken.core-akita.ac.jp/furusato/search/3_festival/39_akitabanzai.html
Yoshimoto Kogyo. (October 22, 2025). Resident Akita Comedian "Ches" Presents: 'Ches THE Akita Banzai' – A Live Performance Passing on the Prefecture-Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property 'Akita Banzai'! Sunday, 9th November 2025 @ Former Matsukura Family Residence. PRTIMES. https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000004514.000029501.html
by Kobori Fuka
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