The Kashima Incident - The Kashima Incident

Japanese: 鹿島の事触 - かしまのことぶれ

...This song and dance was popularized by religious performers called "Kashima no Kotobure" who carried the faith of Kashima Shrine in Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture. It is also called Miroku Dance because the song contains lyrics praising the arrival of Maitreya Bodhisattva, "Miroku no O-bune ga tatsumi ni Kashima no Ura (The boat of Maitreya has arrived in truth and in the bay of Kashima)."

From [Kashima Belief]

...This is based on a prophecy given by the oracle of the Queen of the Priestess, known as Omonokimi of Kashima Shrine. When the messengers of Kashima spread the prophecy to various parts of eastern Japan, they also announced the arrival of the ship carrying the savior Maitreya. The Maitreya dance, which worships the arrival of Maitreya Buddha, is still popular in the Kashima region today.

*Some of the terminology used in reference to the "Kashima Incident" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…茨城県鹿嶋市鎮座の鹿島神宮の信仰を持ち歩いた〈鹿島の事触（ことぶれ）〉と称する宗教芸能者が広めた歌舞。歌に〈誠やら鹿島の浦に弥勒（みろく）お舟がついたやら〉と弥勒菩薩の来訪を賛美する詞章があるところから弥勒踊ともよばれる。…