Sanzoro Festival

Japanese: 参候祭 - さんぞろまつり

Folk performing arts. This performing art is centered on the Yudate (hot water bath), and is performed on the Saturday and Sunday closest to November 17th at Tsushima Shrine in Mitsuhashi, Shitara-cho, Kitashitara-gun, Aichi Prefecture. A hot water kettle is placed in the center of the dance stage, and around it, dancers perform the following dances: Child Dance, Fudo Dance, Ebisu Dance, Bishamon Dance, Taiheiraku, Daikokuten Dance, Benzaiten Dance, Koma, Jurojin Dance, Hotei Dance, Fukurokuju Dance, Tono-ma Dance, and Shishimai Dance. The festival's name comes from the fact that the Seven Lucky Gods appear and ask the priest "Who are you?" at the beginning of a dialogue, and the priest responds, "I am...". This form has been passed down in old Noh, Yamabushi Kagura in the Tohoku region, and Kagura in the Chugoku region, which retains the ancient style, and is thought to retain the appearance of medieval performing arts.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

民俗芸能。湯立（ゆだて）を中心とした芸能で，愛知県北設楽（きたしたら）郡設楽町三都橋（みつはし）の津島神社で，11月17日に近い土･日曜に演じられる。舞場中央に湯釜を据え，釜のまわりで稚児舞･不動舞･恵比須舞･毘沙門舞･太平楽･大黒天舞･弁財天舞･駒･寿老人･布袋（ほてい）･福禄寿･殿面の舞･獅子舞などが舞われる。祭りの名称は出現する七福神が禰宜（ねぎ）との問答の冒頭で〈何者にて候〉と問うと，〈さん候　それがしは……〉と答えることから名付けられたもので，この形式は古い能や，東北地方の山伏神楽（やまぶしかぐら），中国地方の古式を残す神楽などに伝えられており，中世芸能の面影を残すものと考えられる。

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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