Rain-making dance - Amagoiodori

Japanese: 雨乞踊 - あまごいおどり

A type of folk performing art. A dance performed to pray for rain during droughts. Originally it was an occasional performance, but in some places it is performed annually at festivals for local deities so that the dance never ceases. Some places also perform a dance of thanks when it rains. Most are drum dances, in which the sound of drums and bells is likened to thunder, and it was believed that the sound would bring rain. Rain-making dances include nembutsu dances, elegant lion dances, and drum dances, and are performed by large groups of men at places such as waterside, mountaintops, and the shrines of local deities. (→Rain-making)

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

民俗芸能の一つ。干魃のとき降雨を祈って踊る踊り。本来臨時に行なわれるものであるが，踊りを絶やさないために鎮守の祭りなどに例年行なうところもある。また雨が降るとお礼踊を踊るところもある。多くは太鼓踊で太鼓や鉦の響きが雷鳴に擬せられ，その音が雨を呼ぶと信じられた。雨乞踊には念仏踊や風流（ふりゅう）の獅子舞，太鼓踊などがあり，水辺や山頂，氏神の社などで大勢の男たちによって踊られる。（→雨乞い）

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