Kagura literally means entertaining the gods. It is a sacred Japanese dance and music ritual dedicated to the gods of Shinto. Since ancient times, it has been performed at regional festivals as a ceremony to pray for a good harvest and to ward off natural disasters. 　The origin of kagura is not accurately known but it is said that to originate in the Amano-Iwato story, which is one of the myths described in Japan's oldest historical record, Kojiki (written approximately 1,300 years ago). In this story, Amaterasu Okami (God of the Sun) hides behind a rock. Many gods dance and play music hoping to coax her out to shine light on the world again. 　Kagura spread throughout the country in various ways, giving birth to many forms of performance. Each region has enjoyed its own form of kagura for many generations.

　Kagura, which began as a religious ritual, has also been a popular form of entertainment for centuries. But, with the spread of urbanization and regional changes, kagura rituals have not been passed down to successive generations. 　However, Iwami Kagura has continued to evolve and remains very popular in this region. Some notable features of Iwami Kagura are fast-paced music and dance, gorgeous costumes and simple stories. In Iwami, there are more than 130 active kagura organizations, known locally as shachu. Iwami Kagura remains a well-established part of daily life in this area. We hope you will find it exciting and fun!

　Kagura is a majestic dance ceremony that relates a story. Performances usually consist of a simple theme, gods eliminating demons. These simple stories of gods defeating demons are based on myths from Kojiki and other early historical documents. These myths are believed to originate from the religious belief that demons caused droughts and flooding and that, through prayer, the gods could defeat these demons. 　The meanings of the phrases repeated throughout each play are difficult to understand. However, the most important thing is to enjoy the overall flow of the performance.

The hero of Iwami Kagura and the target of children's aspirations; usually carries a hei (Shinto staff with paper streamers), sword or bow and arrows.

Four people spend one month creating a single costume.
Real silver and gold thread is used for embroidering.
Every piece of each costume is handmade. A single costume can weigh up to 30 kilograms.
Performers must move vigorously on a small stage despite tight, heavy costumes.
Therefore, they must be highly skilled and have considerable endurance.
Costumes are designed so they can be altered as a performance proceeds. Watch for how the costume changes in a flash as the performer spins.

Each kagura organization makes its own original masks.
They are made by gluing together overlapping layers of Sekishu washi paper (a UNESCO designated cultural heritage product).
One mask takes one month to create.
Traditionally, masks were made from wood. Today, they are created from paper, which makes them lighter and easier for the performers to breathe.
Visibility is still severely limited.

A serpent body is created from Sekishu washi paper and bamboo that was dried for a year.
When fully stretched out, the body reaches a length of 17 meters and weighs 12 kilograms.
A serpent body is constructed in a method similar to a mask by gluing together overlapping sheets of washi paper, which makes it strong but lightweight.