History and Beliefs of Omoto Kagura
From Omoto-mai to a Community Ritual
Omoto Kagura was formerly known as Omoto-mai. It is performed when the deity enshrined by a village or local community is ceremonially invited and honored during a special festival held at intervals of several years.
The interval varies by community, but ceremonies have traditionally been held every four, five, or seven years. These festivals have served as important occasions for the community to come together and reaffirm its relationship with the local deity.
A Tradition Connected to Agriculture
The Omoto belief system has strong connections with traditional agricultural worship. Communities prayed for abundant harvests, prosperity, and peace, reflecting the close relationship between people’s lives, the natural environment, and the agricultural cycle.
For this reason, Omoto Kagura is more than an artistic performance. It is a sacred ritual connecting people with the divine, with the dances and music serving as expressions of prayer.
Preserved Through Times of Restriction
During the Meiji period, government policies restricting certain forms of religious performance and practices involving spiritual possession placed limitations on many traditional Kagura traditions.
Omoto Kagura was also temporarily prohibited. However, the tradition survived in a limited number of mountain communities, where local people continued to preserve it. This helped retain ritual elements that might otherwise have disappeared.
Other forms of Kagura gradually developed as popular performing arts, eventually contributing to the modern form of Iwami Kagura. Omoto Kagura, however, has retained a particularly strong connection to its ancient ritual origins.
Distinctive Features of Omoto Kagura
The Slow and Solemn Rokuchōshi Rhythm
One of the clearest differences between Omoto Kagura and modern Iwami Kagura is its musical rhythm.
Modern Iwami Kagura is widely known for its fast-paced hachichōshi rhythm. Omoto Kagura, on the other hand, is traditionally performed to the slower rokuchōshi rhythm.
The sounds of drums, flutes, and metal gongs accompany deliberate movements by the performers. Rather than relying on spectacular effects, the performance emphasizes solemnity and ritual significance.
The slower pace allows the atmosphere of the ceremony to develop gradually, offering visitors a glimpse of Kagura in one of its more traditional forms.
Takumai and the Tradition of Divine Possession
A Rare Ritual in Which the Divine Is Invited
One of the most distinctive elements of Omoto Kagura is Takumai, a ritual traditionally associated with kamigakari, or divine possession.
During the ceremony, Shinto priests and performers move around the sacred dance space while chanting kamiuta, or sacred songs. According to the tradition, the deity may descend upon a person during the ritual, and divine messages may be received.
This tradition preserves elements of ancient Japanese religious practices and is one of the features that distinguishes Omoto Kagura from many other forms of Kagura performed today.
A Village Kagura Rooted in Local Communities
A Tradition Closely Connected to the Land
Omoto Kagura is traditionally dedicated to the deity of a particular community. Because of this local character, it was not originally intended to be performed outside its own community.
As a result, Omoto Kagura is less widely known nationally than spectacular forms of Iwami Kagura. At the same time, this close connection to individual communities has helped preserve it as a living tradition passed down by local people.
For visitors, experiencing Omoto Kagura offers a rare opportunity to encounter an aspect of Japanese religious culture that remains closely connected to the land, agriculture, nature, and community life.
Representative Omoto Kagura Performances
Shihōhai — Purifying the Four Directions
Shihōhai is performed by four dancers wearing colorful costumes. They move around the four sides of the sacred dance space to purify each direction.
The dance incorporates fundamental Kagura movements and helps establish the sacred atmosphere in which the ceremony takes place.
Dō-no-kuchi — Music as Prayer
Dō-no-kuchi is performed by the musicians alone, using drums, flutes, and metal gongs.
The performance begins with a solemn atmosphere and gradually becomes more energetic and expressive, allowing the audience to appreciate the distinctive sound and rhythm of Kagura music.
Goza — The Seat of the Deity
Goza represents the seat of the deity. The dancer performs while holding a small woven rush mat measuring approximately half a tatami mat.
During the latter part of the performance, the dancer repeatedly leaps over the mat, creating a striking display of movement and physical energy.
Tengai — A Dance of the Sacred Canopies
Tengai is a mysterious performance involving nine canopies suspended above the sacred dance hall.
As the canopies are manipulated during the dance, the scene can give the impression that the divine presence itself is moving through the sacred space. It is one of the most distinctive and visually fascinating performances of Omoto Kagura.
Tsunanuki — The Sacred Straw Serpent
Tsunanuki features a sacred serpent made from straw, known as takutsuna. The serpent appears in the dance space and is carried and manipulated by the Shinto priests.
As the performance progresses, the movements become increasingly intense. According to tradition, the ritual may lead to kamigakari, or divine possession.
Rokusho-mai — A Powerful Prayer to the Deities
In Rokusho-mai, the Shinto priests move around the dance hall while chanting sacred songs, led by a large ōnusa, a ceremonial purification wand made from paper streamers.
The vigorous movements and solemn prayers make this an especially powerful expression of the ritual character of Omoto Kagura.
Omoto Kagura Heritage Museum
Discover the Tradition in Sakurae-cho
In Ichiyama, Sakurae-cho, Gotsu City, the Omoto Kagura Heritage Museum introduces the history and cultural significance of Omoto Kagura, which is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
The museum is located within the Ichiyama Community Exchange Center and provides an accessible way to learn about the tradition, even when an actual Kagura ceremony is not taking place.
A Reconstructed Kagura Dance Hall
One of the museum’s main exhibits is a reconstructed dance hall measuring approximately eight tatami mats, recreating the sacred space used for Omoto Kagura ceremonies.
Nine small tengai canopies representing the four directions and the center are suspended above the hall. Their arrangement reflects the traditional Yin-Yang and Five Elements cosmology, representing wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
Seasonal cut-paper decorations are also placed around the dance hall, creating a space in which the natural world and the sacred world are symbolically brought together.
The Tsunanuki Model
The museum features a detailed model depicting the Tsunanuki ritual, one of the central ceremonies of Omoto Kagura.
The model shows Shinto priests carrying the sacred takutsuna and moving around the dance hall. It provides visitors with an easy-to-understand visual introduction to the ritual and its distinctive movements.
Kagura Masks
Reproductions of Kagura masks based on masks preserved by Kagura groups in Sakurae-cho are also displayed.
The collection includes a variety of figures and characters, such as Susanoo-no-Mikoto, Amaterasu Ōmikami, Hannya, and Shuten-dōji. Together, they demonstrate the breadth and artistic richness of the Kagura tradition in Iwami.
The museum also introduces the characteristics of wooden and washi-paper masks produced from the late Edo period to the early Meiji period, offering insight into Kagura as an important form of traditional Japanese folk art.
Omoto Kagura and Sightseeing in Gotsu
Exploring the Landscapes of Sakurae-cho
Omoto Kagura is deeply connected with the natural environment, religious traditions, and community culture of Sakurae-cho in Gotsu City.
The surrounding area features beautiful views of the Gōnokawa River and peaceful mountain villages. The scenery offers travelers a glimpse of a quieter side of Japan and landscapes reminiscent of traditional rural life.
Gotsu City also offers a variety of other attractions, including Arifuku Onsen, Iwami Seaside Park, and Shimane Aquarium AQUAS.
After learning about the mysterious traditions of Omoto Kagura, travelers can continue exploring the region through hot springs, coastal scenery, and nature walks to experience the diverse character of Iwami.
The Spirit of Japan Preserved in Omoto Kagura
A Culture of Prayer Passed Down Through Generations
Omoto Kagura is a tradition of prayer that local communities have carefully preserved for generations. Within its dances and rituals are expressions of respect for nature, prayers for abundant harvests, and wishes for peace and well-being within the community.
While spectacular forms of Kagura have become popular attractions for visitors, Omoto Kagura offers a quieter and more solemn experience. Its slow musical rhythm, mysterious movements, and traditions surrounding divine possession preserve an ancient dimension of Japanese sacred performing arts.
For travelers interested in Shinto, Japanese folklore, traditional performing arts, and rural cultural heritage, Omoto Kagura provides a rare opportunity to encounter a living tradition that has remained closely connected to its original community.
When visiting Sakurae-cho in Gotsu City, consider stopping at the Omoto Kagura Heritage Museum to learn more about this remarkable cultural tradition. Here, the world of ancient prayers and beliefs continues to quietly live on in the mountains of Iwami.