The origins of Tsuzureko Big Drums go back to sometime before 1262. Drum music and dance (taiko-furyū), a lion dance, two-color processions (Gempei Shiro-Aka Gyōretsu), and a hot-water kagura dance (yudate-kagura) started under the influence of shugen ascetic kagura. Those ritualistic dances were originally performed separately as prayers for good weather (against drought and against continued rain) and for good harvests. By the turn of the 18th century, they had been merged to the rituals of the annual festival of the shrine, and with the performance of stick dances and yakko dances (samurai servants’ dances). It is now called Tsuzureko Big Drums, but it includes not only the performance of big drums, but also a lion dance, yakko dance, stick dance, and daimyo procession. The performance of big drums is done in two teams, one team as the Tokugawa side and the other as the Toyotomi side replicating the famous battle of Sekigahara in 1600. They form combative processions under the flags and compete in the volume and quality of the big drums and lion dance performances. The volume of the performance is said to influence its effects as a prayer for good weather and good harvests.
Performances in Tsuzureko Big Drums Festival
Tsuzureko Big Drums Festival in 2019 (Japanese only)
Date and time
July 14th and 15th every year (No cancellations for rain)
July 14th from 7:00pm
July 15th from 11:00am
Tsuzureko Jinja (Tsuzureko shrine)
Take an Ou line train bound from Akita station to Nukazawa station for 1 h 30 min. Walk for 15 min to Nukazawa Eki Mae bus stop. Take a Tsuzureko Takanosu line bus from the bus stop to Tsuzureko for 5 min. Walk for 5 min.
缀子大太鼓
鎌仓时代的1262年以前，由山伏法印神乐发明的，其中加入太鼓风流、狮子舞、源平白赤行列，进行了御汤立神乐等。各个仪式分别举行，进行祈雨、祈天晴、五谷丰登的仪式。江户时代元禄年间（1688～1704年）之前统一祭礼活动，还加入棒术、奴舞等。现在即便称为缀子大太鼓，也不只有大太鼓，还有狮子舞、奴舞、甩棍、大名行列。大太鼓的囃子为了祈雨以及祈祷丰收而发出巨大声响的威势，将上町作为德川方、下町作为丰臣方，组成持旗游行的队伍，在出阵时表演狮子舞以互相竞赛。
綴子大太鼓
鎌倉時代的1262年以前，由山伏法印神樂發明的，其中加入太鼓風流、獅子舞、源平白赤行列，進行了御湯立神樂等。各個儀式分別舉行，進行祈雨、祈天晴、五穀豐收之儀式。江戶時代元祿年間（1688～1704年）之前統一祭禮活動，還加入棒術、奴舞等。現在即便稱為綴子大太鼓，也不只有大太鼓，還有獅子舞、奴舞、甩棍、大名行列。大太鼓的囃子為了祈雨以及祈禱豐收而發出巨大聲響的威勢，將上町作為德川方、下町作為豐臣方，組成持旗遊行的隊伍，在出陣時表演獅子舞以互相競賽。