©Baitoru, All Rights Reserved
Kosawada Horse Dance started around the middle of the Meiji era. The origin and history are not certain. This dance is one of the horse dances passed down in Yoneshiro river region. In 1991, it was chosen as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Kamikoani village.
This festival used to be called the Kosawada Lion Dance, but it is now called the Kosawada Horse Dance. That is because they have lost the dance of lions and retained only the horse dance, with some hand gestures as reminders of the lion dance of the old days. It is performed at Obon to appease the spirits of the ancestors. There used to be the representation of a daimyo’s procession with stick dance and manzai (celebratory speech performance). The horse dance is performed with a horse-shaped costume and armor. The dancer jumps up and down as if riding a horse. Umakata Bushi (horsemen’s songs) and folkloric songs of the Oiwake genre are sung.
To know more!
Performance on the street
Performance on the stage in August, 2012
Current activities
The dance performance is held on August 13th in Kosawada district and some other events.
Take an Ou line from Akita station to Takanosu Station, and take a bus bound for Okitaomote from Takanosu Station to Kosawada-iriguchi.
小泽田驹舞
曾经称为小泽田狮子舞，但如今称为驹舞。自从没有狮子舞后将驹舞作为主要舞蹈后只加上手部舞蹈。据说举办盆舞有供养祖先之意。也曾经有大名行列，也表演甩棒、万岁，但如今没有表演。驹舞是用做成的马型与舞者穿上盔甲以似骑马般地动作，然后反覆跳跃的舞，牵拉马时唱马方节或追分的民谣。
小澤田駒舞
曾經稱為小澤田獅子舞，但如今稱為駒舞。自從沒有獅子舞後將駒舞作為主要舞蹈後只加上手部舞蹈。據說舉辦盆舞有供養祖先之意。也曾經有大名行列，也表演甩棒、萬歲，但如今沒有表演。駒舞是利用做成的馬型與舞者穿上盔甲以似騎馬般地動作，然後反覆跳躍的舞，拉引馬時唱馬方節或追分的民謠。