8. Hiroshima Akitakata Kagura: Akitakata

Overview

Kagura, a form of votive music and dance, is a nationwide tradition with over a thousand years of history. While it is usually performed on a small stage on the grounds of a shrine, in Akitakata in Hiroshima Prefecture has a large hall dedicated to year-round kagura performances, and has 22 kagura troupes. As well as appearing on stage, they handle all the backstage and other preparations involved in putting on their strikingly memorable performances.