Continuing a 300 year tradition, the heroic Toya Lion Dance/Sagamihara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1308100006/

August 11, 2013

The Toya Lion Dance.

On the 10th, a tradition continuing over 300 years took place at the Suwa Shrine of Toya, Midori Ward, Sagamihara. There, the Toya Lion Dance was performed in a religious dedication.

The dance depicted a family of a father, mother and son. Dancing to the sounds of a flute, 3 people covered in white robes and lion masks performed, their heads twisting concurrently to the music.

The Toya Lion Dance began during the Japan's Kanbun Period (1661-73), to be later appointed as an intangible cultural asset of the prefecture. Local high school students took on the task of performing as the lions.

Original text:
３００年間続く伝統「鳥屋の獅子舞」勇壮に／相模原
2013年8月11日

鳥屋の獅子舞

相模原市緑区鳥屋の諏訪神社で１０日、３００年以上前から続くとされる伝統芸能「鳥屋の獅子舞」が奉納された。

父、母、息子３頭の獅子舞。笛の音が響くと、獅子頭をかぶった白衣姿の３人が、同時に頭をうねらせながら舞った。

獅子舞は寛文年間（１６６１～７３年）ごろから始まったとされ、県無形民俗文化財に指定されている。獅子役は地元の高校生が務めている。