Embedded Files
-Trapoom Kamdokrap
Historical Background
Historical Background
It is believed that Nakaniida area often experienced major fires from early spring to early summer because the winds from Ōu Mountains(奥羽山脈, Ōu-sanmyaku), Japan’s longest mountain range, blowing down to the area. Following the incident, people started to create Fire-Prevention Tiger Dance as a ritual to pray for Hibuse (火伏せ). There is a classical Chinese saying that “Clouds follow the dragon; winds follow the tiger” so people believed that a tiger can command the wind as well as calm the wind. Incorporating this idea, the tiger dance is offered at the Inari Shrine during the Hatsu-uma festival as a symbolic way of “borrowing the authority of the tiger”.
https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/movies/?id=D0004990391_00000
https://thelocality.net/toramai/
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/41601
Characteristics
Characteristics
As mentioned earlier, Fire-Prevention Tiger Dance expresses prayers for hibuse. It is done by a dynamic outdoor performance in the form of tigers. The role of the tiger is performed by local elementary and junior-high students, especially junior-high boys, who work in pairs to animate a single tiger. Yellow-and-black striped body clothes are being used as well as distinctive tiger masks, and each troupe differs in its masks, decorations, and musical style.
The dancing styles normorally consist of vigorous movement such as jumping, spinning, and shaking the large body cloth while others perform flute and drum music. The ritual is not only limited to ground performance, but they also climb onto the roofs of houses and shops for the famous “dance on the rooftop,” regarded as the climax and as a symbolic gesture of suppressing the wind.
To Know More
Performing on the roof top
[Japanese only]
Junior high students perform the dance
[Japanese only]
Students perform the tiger dance [Japanese only]
How to Get There
How to Get There
The festival runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tiger dances will occur seven times total throughout the day, starting from 10 a.m.
MAIN LOCATION: Karaku Koji Shopping Lane, Nakaniida, Kami Town
ADDRESS: Kitamachisanban, Kami, Kami-gun, Miyagi-ken 981-4254
ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT: 30 min. by bus from Furukawa Station (JR Tohoku Shinkansen, JR East Rikuu Line). At Furukawa Station, board bus bound for Shikama Yakuba-mae (色麻役場前). Alight at Nakaniida Nishi-machi (中新田西町).
ADMISSION: Free
OFFICIAL URL: https://www.miyagi-kankou.or.jp/kakikomi/detail.php?id=1430
Direct Voice from Trapoom Kamdokrap
Direct Voice from Trapoom Kamdokrap
When I first saw this festival, it reminded me of the Chinese lion dance. The lion dance is a very well-known performance in Thailand and around the world as well. It’s interesting that Japan has its own version of the lion dance (or should I say tiger dance?), because I had never seen any performance that resembles the lion dance before. I also wonder whether it was inspired by the lion dance or not.
While working on this digital archive, I reached out to many Japanese friends and asked if they knew anything about this festival. Unfortunately, it seems to be less popular than I expected, as none of them had heard of this beautiful tradition.
I think this festival is very unique, and Miyagi Prefecture should find a way to share and promote it to a wider audience.
References
References
Chiiki Dentō Bunka Writer. (2025, November 6). [Kami Town, Miyagi Prefecture] The 670-Year-Old “Fire-Prevention Tiger Dance | Hatsuumamatsuri”: Who Created It and Why? Exploring Its History, Origins, and When It Began — Visiting the Origin Site at Nakanitta & Tagawa Inari Shrine. Miyagi Regional Traditional Culture Lab. https://local-culture.jp/kami-town-miyagi-prefecture-fire-prevention-tiger-dance-fire-prevention-and-fire-prevention-culture-in-nakaniida/
Hatsu-uma Festival – Fire-Prevention Tiger Dance, April 29, 2025 (Tue, Holiday) | Sightseeing & Travel Information Site: Miyagi Marugoto Explorer. (n.d.). https://www.miyagi-kankou.or.jp/kakikomi/detail.php?id=1430
Hatsu-uma Festival “Fire-Prevention Tiger Dance” | NPO Japan Festival Network. (n.d.-b). NPO Japan Festival Network. https://www.nippon-matsuri.net/report/toramai/
Miyagi Prefecture. (n.d.). Designated Cultural Properties: Prefectural Intangible Folk Cultural Property — Nakanida Tiger Dance. Miyagi Prefecture. https://www.pref.miyagi.jp/soshiki/bunkazai/18nakaniida.html
NHK. (n.d.). Fire-Prevention Tiger Dance. Fire-Prevention Tiger Dance | Regions | NHK Archives. https://www2.nhk.or.jp/archives/movies/?id=D0004990391_00000
By Trapoom Kamdokrap
Page updated
Report abuse