Soga Festival

Japanese: 曾我祭 - そがまつり

During the Edo period, this was one of the annual events held at each theater in Edo. When the early spring kyogen was a success and performances continued into May, it was held on May 28th, the day of the attack by the Soga brothers. It is a festival for Soga Arahito-no-kami, who was enshrined in the dressing room as the patron deity of theater. Originally it was an event held in the dressing room, but in 1753 (the 3rd year of the Horeki era) at the Nakamuraza, when the first kyogen was a great success, it was held on stage, and this became a custom at the three theaters and continued until around the Bunsei era (1818-30). A portable shrine (mikoshi) was displayed in the partitioned area, and kagura music was played during the intermission. After the performance, a drinking party was held in the dressing room, and after that, a procession through the town was held with various dances and entertainments.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

江戸時代，江戸の各劇場で行った年中行事の一つ。初春狂言が成功し，5月まで興行が継続したとき，曾我兄弟の討入りの5月28日に催した。芝居の守護神として楽屋に祀っていた曾我荒人神のお祭り。元来は楽屋内の行事であったが，1753年(宝暦3)中村座で初狂言の大成功のとき，舞台で行ったのが以後三座の慣例になり，文政(1818‐30)ごろまで続いた。仕切場に神輿（みこし）を飾り，幕間には神楽を奏した。楽屋では，打出し後酒宴，それが終わってからいろいろな趣向の練物や余興を演じて町内を行列する。

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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