5. Kawanishi Dainenbutsu Kenbai: Hiraizumi

Overview

Kawanishi Dainenbutsu Kenbai is an elegant and dynamic dance, accompanied by flutes and taiko drums. In 2022, it was registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and it even takes place at a World Heritage Site: Chusonji in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. The dance retells a story from 900 years ago, when the Buddha, in the form of a monkey, guided restless souls to the Pure Land. We meet local people who are working hard to keep the tradition alive.