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Seasonal Tourist Guide

Kanomizu Kakeodori

A traditional event of the Kanomizu district in Meiho, designated as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Kanomizu no Kakeodori is a traditional furyu-style taiko dance passed down in Kanomizu, Meiho, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture. It is dedicated every year on the second Sunday of September and the day before, during the festival at Kanomizu Hakusan Shrine, the local guardian deity. The dancers, called yakusha (actors), include a variety of roles, most notably the hyoshi-uchi, who carry 3.6-meter-long floral decorations called shinai on their backs. When performed at the shrine, four hyoshi-uchi dance at the center of the grounds, while the other actors form a circle around them, dancing in rhythm with the hayashi (musical accompaniment) and call-and-response songs. Locally, it is said to have a 300-year history. The oldest known record of the dance being dedicated in Kanomizu is a document titled “Tōmura Ujigami Hakusan Daigongen Sairei no Oboe (Copy)” bearing the year Tenmei 1 (1781).

Dates
Held every year on the second Sunday of September and the day before.

  • Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan

  • Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Gifu Prefecture

  • Designated Folk Performing Art Selected by the National Government

  • UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

  • ・(1962) Designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Gifu Prefecture

  • ・(1974) Selected as an Intangible Cultural Property requiring documentation measures

  • ・(1975) Due to amendments to the Cultural Properties Protection Act, the designation was changed from “Intangible Cultural Property requiring documentation measures” to “Intangible Folk Cultural Property requiring documentation measures”

  • ・(1976) Due to amendments to the Gifu Prefecture Cultural Property Protection Ordinance, the designation was changed from “Important Intangible Cultural Property of Gifu Prefecture” to “Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Gifu Prefecture”

  • ・(2021) Designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan

  • ・(2022) Registered as one of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage elements under “Furyu-odori” (a collection of 41 folk performing arts designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties across Japan)

Kanomizu Kakeodori

Today, the Kanomizu no Kakeodori is organized primarily by the Kanomizu Kakeodori Preservation Society, in cooperation with the local community, from preparation through performance and cleanup. Around mid-August, after the Obon holidays, the performers are assigned their roles, and nightly practice of the dances and musical accompaniment begins. One week before the festival, many residents gather to create decorations for the props used in the performance and to repair any damaged items. Just before the main event, a full dress rehearsal is held with all the performers. The festival at Kanomizu Hakusan Shrine is held over two days: the first day is called Shingaku (trial performance), and the second day is Hongaku (main performance). On both days, the Kakeodori is performed three times: the “Nakageta-mae no Odori” at the Kanomizu Kakeodori Transmission Hall, the “Oniwa Odori” in the shrine grounds, and the “Haiden-mae no Odori” in front of the worship hall.

Schedule for the Day

  • Around 8:00 / Around 9:30

    Yobi-daiko (Calling Drums)

    On the morning of the festival, the hyoshi-uchi (beat keepers) gather at the Kanomizu Kakeodori Transmission Hall (hereafter referred to as the Transmission Hall) and begin rehearsing the taiko drums and kane (bells) indoors. This signals the start of the festival and is known as the “Yobi-daiko” or “Yose-daiko” (calling drums). The following four songs are played: the three that open the performance as uta-gashira (opening songs) — “Sutten Denshiko,” “Amatsukute,” and “Chikkara” — along with the final piece “Uchiage.”

  • Around 11:30

    Uchidashi (Procession Departure)

    Around noon, all performers gather at the Transmission Hall and the “Uchidashi” ceremony begins. This refers to a series of events including the sound check performance held in the zashiki (tatami room) of the Nakageta house, a ceremonial sake toast, the departure and procession from the Nakageta house, and the entrance into the front garden of the house. From 2024 (Reiwa 6) onward, this sequence is held at the Transmission Hall. During the sound check, seven processional pieces (michiyuki no dochu-kyoku) and three uta-gashira (opening songs) are played in full, under the watchful eyes of the negi (Shinto priest), the neighborhood association head, and officials of the Kanomizu Kakeodori Preservation Society. Once the sound check ends, the ceremonial sake is shared, and the performers form a procession. They temporarily exit the grounds of the Transmission Hall, circle the area once, and then enter the front garden of the hall. The processional songs are performed in the following order: “Shageri,” “Myoken-byōshi,” “Okazaki,” “Koshizume,” “Jūroku-byōshi,” “Nanatsu-byōshi,” and “Mittsu-byōshi.”

  • Around 12:30

    Nakageta-mae no Odori (Dance in Front of the Nakageta House)

    The “Nakageta-mae no Odori” is traditionally the first dance performed in the front garden of the Nakageta house, where dancers line up in a circle around the hyoshi-uchi (beat keepers). Since 2024 (Reiwa 6), however, this dance has been performed at the Transmission Hall. Compared to the dances at Kanomizu Hakusan Shrine, the movements in this performance are more restrained. The dance progresses with alternating vocals of the leading chant (ondo) and chorus (jika), accompanied by the rhythm of the hyoshi-uchi. After the “Nakageta-mae no Odori” concludes, the performers once again form a procession and depart toward Kanomizu Hakusan Shrine.

  • Around 13:00

    Procession

    Since long ago, the path of the procession from the Nakageta house to Kanomizu Hakusan Shrine has been set, and even after a new road was constructed, part of the original route continued to be used. From 2024 (Reiwa 6) onward, the procession now travels from the Transmission Hall to Kanomizu Hakusan Shrine. The procession passes through the torii gate of the shrine and enters the grounds, advancing once to the front of the Heiden (offering hall), then slowly proceeds counterclockwise toward the designated dance area. While moving with the procession around the Haiden, the hyoshi-uchi (beat keepers) eventually separate from the group and form a small circle in the center of the grounds, where they continue playing while rotating counterclockwise. The exorcist (akumebarai), the naginata twirler (naginata-furi), and the Daikoku dancer (Daikoku-mai) also separate from the procession and move into the large circle formed by the other performers. They perform while circling around the smaller circle of the hyoshi-uchi.

  • Around 14:10

    Niwa Odori (Garden Dance)

    After all the performers have taken their positions, a short break is held, followed by the start of the “Niwa Odori” (Garden Dance). The hyoshi-uchi (beat keepers) rotate counterclockwise in the center of the garden while striking their drums and bells. As the lyrics of the “Niwa Odori” approach their latter half, the hyoshi-uchi begin a motion called niwa-haki, in which they swing their shinai (decorated bamboo poles) as if scraping them along the ground. It is said that the floral ornaments that fall from the shinai during this motion are considered lucky charms, but only certain designated performers are allowed to pick them up.

  • 15:50

    Dance in Front of the Worship Hall

    After a break, the “Dance in Front of the Worship Hall” begins. In this dance, the niwa-haki motion begins earlier than in the “Niwa Odori,” and during the hon-gaku (main performance), the performers dance so vigorously that all the floral decorations on the shinai are scattered. Toward the end, the performance transitions into the shizume-uta (closing song) of the “Dance in Front of the Worship Hall,” which begins with the line “Medeta medeta no no yare sorya medeta no yo.” At this point, the hyoshi-uchi attendants cut the cords fastening the shinai to their backplates and remove the bamboo sticks. They place them inside the circle formed by the performers, and nearby performers pluck off any remaining floral ornaments that haven’t fallen off, either keeping them or handing them to nearby spectators. In the final “Uchiage” (closing piece) of the hon-gaku, the hyoshi-uchi dramatically increase the tempo for the last beat. When it ends, the audience bursts into applause, marking the conclusion of the kakeodori.

  • Final Dance

    At the conclusion of the Kakeodori, performers and spectators form a circle in the center of the courtyard and dance to one of the traditional folk songs of Kanomizu, “Dojo” (Kanomizu Dojo). This is considered a post-festival entertainment dance, and participation is open to all.

Event Information

  • Location

    1203 Meiho Kanomizu, Gujo, Gifu, Japan

  • Dates

    The second Sunday of September and the preceding Saturday
    *The same program is held on both Saturday and Sunday.
    *Please note that the schedule and content are subject to change depending on the weather and other conditions.

  • Access

    About 30 minutes by car from Gujo Hachiman IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway

To All General Photographers

Kanomizu no Kakeodori is an important traditional event for the residents of the Kanomizu area, held to pray to the gods for peace and a bountiful harvest. We kindly ask all photographers to observe the following guidelines and be considerate to local residents and other visitors to avoid any conflicts. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation to ensure that the event can be conducted peacefully and without incident.

  • 1) Entering the circle of the Kakeodori to take photos, crossing the procession and obstructing the dance, or getting so close to the dancers that it interferes with the performance is strictly prohibited.

  • 2) Entering buildings or farmland without permission is strictly prohibited.

  • 3) Photographers are asked to be considerate and share space with each other. Everyone should observe proper photography etiquette. In some cases, we may ask you to move if you have reserved a spot too early.

  • 4) Parking on the roadside causes disruptions to traffic, such as city bus operations. Please park in the designated areas.

  • 5) Photography that violates public order or morals is strictly prohibited. If you post photos on personal blogs or social media, please be considerate of the content.

  • 6) Using drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) for aerial photography is prohibited due to the risk of accidents and injuries from falls.

  • 7) Taking photos or videos for commercial purposes and selling them is strictly prohibited.

*If any violations of rules or manners are discovered, our staff will address the issue.
If you do not follow the staff’s instructions, you may be asked to leave the Kanmizaki area.

You can read the details of the history in the booklet!

Japanese English

Other traditions and cultures.

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