Memeki Bayashi
女米木ばやし
女米木ばやし
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.
Direct Voice from Miu Fukuda
"It was the first time I had heard of this festival. The site is very close to Akita International University, so it is not unusual to be aware of the festival. However, I do not have any information about this custom. I realize that local cultures are disappearing rapidly, and many traditions and festivals may be lost to us. To preserve the regional tradition for future generations, it is essential to research and educate the local community."
To know more!!!
Performances of Memeki Bayashi (Left: 2013 Right: 2017)
Reference
Akita City Tourism, Culture and Sports Department, Cultural Promotion Division. (2018). Illustration map of an important cultural asset. https://www.city.akita.lg.jp/_res/projects/default_project/page/001/010/960/yuwa_a3-4_omote.pdf.pdf
Akita International University. (2023). Akita Minzoku Geino Archives. https://www.akita-minzoku-geino.jp/archives/ja/5402/
AkitaMinzokuGeino. (2013, November 28). Memeki Bayashi [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Jmme8D7hoNY?si=vRB1jTF8d35elPNN
Takkyubin Video. (2017, August 16). Memeki Bayashi Neburi-Nagashi Kan [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/g65UdXMnybE?si=ldSW2ZuVAp--tS-k
By Miu Fukuda