"The Komagata Lion Dance has long been a cherished local tradition, passed down through generations. ... I sincerely hope that someone will step forward and ensure that this powerful dance performance lives on." - Miwa Sakamoto
©Former Futatsui Town Board of Education, All rights reserved
Historical Background
The Komagata Lion Dance is said to have been introduced by a traveling monk who came to the Komagata area during the Kamakura period (13th-14th century) and was danced in memory of ancestors. It is said that when Lord Satake Yoshinobu was transferred from Hitachi to Akita, the dance was performed outside the village for the first time to welcome him. However, the exact history of the dance is uncertain because the old documents were lost in the 1902 fire.
Characteristics
©Former Futatsui Town Board of Education, All rights reserved
Komagata Lion Dance consists of two parts: a lion dance and a sasara dance.
The lion dance in Komagata Lion Dance features two male lions and one female lion, performed by three dancers in a one-person-one-lion style. Performers wearing small lion heads beat waist drums and jump vigorously. The three lions always maintained a triangular formation as they danced.
The lion dance depicts a situation in which two male lions are competing for a single female lion; even though all of the performers are male.
The sasara dance in Komagata Lion Dance refers to a yakko-odori (samurai servants’ dance) and stick dances. The sasara dance has many repertoires, and all are accompanied by drums and flutes. While a sasara dance is performed in other villages, the uniqueness of Komagata’s sasara dance is its rough, vigorous style, which was traditionally considered something only men could perform and thought to be too demanding for women. The key point is the gesture of alternately raising both arms high. Men dance energetically, shouting loudly.
Succession:
The lion dance was strictly confidential; only the heirs of households could learn the dance. On the other hand, the sasara dance had no restrictions; everyone who graduated from school and lived in the village participated.
©Noshiro City, All rights reserved
Performance Schedule and Location
The dance is performed during two summer festivals in the Tomine area of Futatsuimachi, Noshiro City.
July 24: During the festival of the former Tomine Village, the dance is performed at the Atago Shrine, along with processions from other communities. Afterward, the performers tour the neighborhood with a mikoshi.
August 6: During the Tanabata Festival, villagers hold the Nebunagashi ceremony, in which they pray for a good harvest and symbolically wash away kegachi (meaning bad luck or a sign of poor harvests). After the ceremony, the dance is performed in the center of the Komagata village.
※ These events have been suspended since 2023.
↓Komagata, Futatsui-machi, Noshiro City
Present Situation and Future
The Komagata Lion Dance performances have been suspended, and the local preservation society has remained inactive as of November 2025 due to a shortage of performers. Currently, there are only two or three core members who can perform the lion dance and play the accompanying instruments, and many of them are elderly. According to city officials, given this situation, it is unlikely that performances will continue actively in the coming years.
Nevertheless, as a few inheritors of the dance still remain, the hope for a comeback still remains.
To Know More!
Video of the sasara dance from Nishiro City Folk Performing Arts Association (Japanese only)
Video of the sasara dance from Nishiro City Folk Performing Arts Association (Japanese only)
For more information, visit other websites ↓
Akita Folkloric Performance Art Archives (English available)
Futatsui Town Tourism Association (Japanese only)
Direct Voice from Miwa Sakamoto
Men holding sticks perform the sasara dance, rhythmically stepping with small, quick footwork while maintaining a low posture. The dancers' serious gaze is impressive.
In contrast, the lion dance, performed by three dancers, is characterized by full-body dynamic movements, conveying the power and spirit of the lion.
The Komagata Lion Dance has long been a cherished local tradition, passed down through generations. However, it is deeply saddening to see such a tradition now in danger. Although the ageing population has jeopardised its survival, I sincerely hope that someone will step forward and ensure that this powerful dance performance lives on.
When I traced the history, I noticed that all of the performers in the photos and videos were men. In particular, as the lion dance is restricted to family successors, this often means it is passed down to the eldest sons. Through the research, I felt that the dance performances have been appreciated as a way to show masculinity for local men. The aggressiveness of male dancers signifies the power of men.
The masculine aspect of the dance is important, defining the Komagata Lion Dance. However, it may be necessary to be flexible in terms of participant requirements for the preservation of this tradition.
I imagine endangered traditional arts exist across rural Japan. Facing depopulation and a lack of successors, local communities are experiencing the loss of cultures that have served to unite them. The current situation of the Komagata Lion Dance reflects the reality faced by rural communities, prompting me to consider what can be done. As societies at the forefront of aging and depopulation, the Akita and Tohoku regions as a whole should take this situation seriously.
References
Akita Folkloric Performance Art Archives. (n.d.). Komagata lion dance. https://www.akita-minzoku-geino.jp/archives/ja/2252/
Former Futatsui Town Board of Education. (1986). Futatsui-chō no bunkazai shirīzu No. 6 [Cultural heritage of Futatsui Town: Series No. 6].
Noshiro City Folk Performing Arts Association. (2022, November 11). Komagata shishi odori / Sasaramai (Yakko odori) 1989 [Komagata lion dance / Sasara dance (Yakko dance) 1989] [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8JBIcfPFWo&t=63
Noshiro City Folk Performing Arts Association. (2022, November 11). Komagata shishi odori / Shishimai 1989 [Komagata lion dance 1989] [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNbvX4QBNOA
NPO Futatsui Town Tourism Association. (n.d.). Shishitei mukei minzoku bunkazai: Komagata shishi odori [City-designated intangible folk cultural property: Komagata lion dance]. https://futatsui.com/elementor-9559-4-3-2-2-3-4/