Edo Sato Kagura at Koishikawa Korakuen
My previous article was about the plum blossoms at Koishikawa Korakuen. While I was there, I had the unexpected pleasure of witnessing Edo Sato Kagura (江戸里神楽), a Japanese dance. Let me tell you about it.
I’m sure you have seen the famous Japanese dances, Kabuki and Noh. Other examples are Yosakoi, Nihon Buyo, Bon Odori, and Awa Odori. We can also add Edo Sato Kagura.
I can’t give you much firsthand knowledge, because it was my first time seeing it. Maybe I should expand on that a little more. I was sure I hadn’t seen it before. Going online, I found out it is a traditional form of Kagura (神楽), a type of sacred Shinto music and dance.
Key features of Edo Sato Kagura:
1. Shinto Ritual Origins – performed to honor deities, often at shrine festivals.
2. Mask and Dance – Some performances involve masked actors, while others feature elegant dances. I photographed the former.
3. Use of Instruments – drums, flutes, and cymbals create rhythmic, lively performances.
4. Mythological Stories – Many performances depict stories from Japanese mythology.
5. Urban Influence – Edo Sato Kagura became more entertaining and visually dynamic.
What is Edo Sato Kagura?
In a sense, it is similar to Kabuki and Noh. It blends traditional music, dance, and Japanese pantomime to tell the story. So Edo Sato Kagura is conducted without spoken words.
It remains an important cultural tradition in contemporary Japan. You see it at certain Tokyo shrines during festivals. At which ones? I have no idea, to be honest, because I’ve never seen it before. It’s another thing to add to my “to-do” list. I’m sure I’ll find out more one day.
The performance I saw at Koishikawa Korkauen was lively and interesting. Two dancers were the main entertainment. Three musicians (drummers and a flutist) accompanied them. They drew a crowd of about one hundred or so people.
The performance went for about thirty minutes. The dancers also passed out many Japanese sweets and chocolates. Everyone had a good time.
Conclusion
The colorful outfits and dance were a pleasure to photograph. The next time I see it, hopefully, I’ll capture even better photographs. Please leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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