Memeki Bayashi

Historical Background

Memeki Bayashi is a traditional dance and instrumental performance. It begins with the prayers for a great harvest by farmers. It has been dedicated to the Takao shrine on July 7th every year. The origin of this festival is that farmers learned the "Okoto Dance" as a prayer for an abundant harvest. In recent years, dedicating to the shrine has not been conducted.

Charactaristics

This has been dedicated to the Yoimiya Festival at Takao Shrine in Memeki in recent years. It is constructed by integrating the Okoto Dance and Ken Bayashi in the Senboku region. Dancers construct the tower in the precincts of the shrine, and dance with a white kimono, a navy hakama, and a folding fan. This dance continues for five chapters. First, they do dance with a fan. Second, they open it. Third, they dance with the fan open and change the formation. The fourth and fifth chapters are a repetition of the second and the third. There are big drums, a snare, a Japanese whistle, a drum, a Shamisen, and a handy gong. Instrumental performance has only one chapter and repeats it throughout the dance. Ordinarily, it has the "Yose Daiko", which is similar to an opening act without dance.