Detail
| Cultural Resources Category | Folk Cultural Materials (Tangible / Intangible) |
|---|---|
| Cultural Properties Category | Prefectural Designation Intangible Folk Cultural Properties |
| Title | Shirokuwamai Dance |
| Designation Date | 1977/07/29 |
| Owner / Manager | Shirokuwamai Preservation Society |
| Description | This tradition is passed down in the Kami-ishi district of Otawara City. The Nasu district also has the tradition of Shiro Kuwamai Dance. The Otawara family originally resided in a mansion called Minakuchi Kyokan at the eastern end of the current city area, known as Machijima, but in the 14th year of Tenbun (1545), during the time of Otawara Sukekiyo, they built a castle called Zenshitsu Castle, which is the current Otawara Castle, and moved there. When constructing the castle, Sukekiyo employed farmers from six nearby villages as laborers. After its completion, he held a celebration banquet. At that time, a farmer named Tobei from Ishigami village (Kami-ishi) spontaneously danced with a hoe in front of Lord Otawara Sukekiyo. The sight of him dancing with the hoes held by the people present was so amusing that it became a custom to invite Tobei and others to the castle every year to perform the dance. Initially, it had no fixed form, but over time, it became fixed and has been passed down to this day. |