Prefecture:Iwate
City: Hanamaki City
Unique Feature: Shishi Odori (Deer Dance)
Local Connection: Shishi odori (deer dance) is a folk dance from Ochiai, a rural rice farming
village in Iwate. A group of dancers and the local shrine priest dress wear deer
masks and antlers reaching over 9 feet in height and made of bamboo whisks. The
ritualized dance moves are accompanied by chanted prayers in an effort to ward
off evil and bring good fortune by tapping into the spiritual world.
video shot by ptosis at the Honolulu Festival 2006. If the video doesn't load, or IE blocks the ActiveX request, then click on this link to watch the deer dance.
Reference:
The Journal of Popular Culture Vol. 38 Issue 1 Page 129 August 2004
"The Ochiai Deer Dance: A Traditional Dance in a Modern World"
Christopher S. Thompson
