Shark Kagura

Japanese: 鮫神楽 - さめかぐら

A folk art form. Kagura handed down in Same, Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture. It is one of the Kagura forms brought to the Tohoku region by ascetic monks, and belongs to the broader definition of Yamabushi Kagura, but as described below, it is characterized by its unique repertoire that incorporates modern performing arts. Traditional repertoire includes many pieces common to Yamabushi Kagura, such as Gongenmai, a dance in which the lion's head is spun, the "Hakajishi" piece performed at a grave, Sanbaso, Bushimai, and Shinmai. However, since Same was a trading port with Edo and Kamigata throughout the early modern period, Kagura was also influenced by modern performing arts such as Kabuki and puppet theater, and incorporated these arts to create a unique repertoire that is highly entertaining.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

民俗芸能。青森県八戸市鮫に伝承される神楽。修験者によって東北地方に伝えられた神楽の一つで，広義の山伏神楽（やまぶしかぐら）に属するが，後述のように近世芸能をとり入れた独特の演目に特色がある。旧来の演目には獅子頭をまわす権現舞（ごんげんまい）に，墓で演じる《墓獅子》の曲をはじめ，三番叟，武士舞，神舞など山伏神楽に共通する演目が多い。しかし鮫の地が近世を通じて江戸や上方との交易港であったことから，神楽も歌舞伎や人形芝居など近世芸能の影響を受け，それらの芸能をとり入れた娯楽性の強い独自のレパートリーをくふうした。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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