この秋分の日連休は上山田神楽保存会の一年間の中でのピークです。上山田のそれぞれの神社の秋月祭で大忙しい２日間となる。
今年も私は応援で１日目で八阪神社の、二日間目は上山田温泉を守る波閉科神社の秋月祭で獅子笛を吹きました。二日間連続の長い一日。
秋月際はそれぞれの役員の自宅でも獅子舞を行い、町中で行列をする。そのついでに新築の家にも呼ばれる事がある。その時に、居間で舞って、そして水回り(台所、お風呂場、トイレ）も回って、お祓いをする。私が笛を吹きながら一緒に巡る。
今回は初めて気づいたが、新築の自宅のお祝いで家中にお祓いする時に、獅子の口に刀が挟んである。
何で日本刀でしょうか？まあ、それ以上は聞かないようにしておきました！
写真は八阪神社の秋月祭の様子。
The Autumnal Equinox holiday weekend is the biggest of the year for the Kamiyamada Kagura Lion Dance troupe to which I belong. Every shrine in Kamiyamada holds a Harvest Moon Festival, and our troupe splits up to perform in the various ceremonies.
Once again this year, on the first day I helped with the Yasaka Shrine's festival. Then on the 2nd day, I played the flute all day for the shrine that watches over our onsen town, Habeshina Jinja.
For the festivals, we have a procession that winds through the respective districts, stopping at the homes of the festival elders to do a lion dance. We also are invited to give blessings at newly built homes as a commemmoration. During those performances, besides doing the dance in the living room, the shishi lion stops at the kitchen, bath room and toilet room, as well, to ward off evil spririts.
I usually accompany the lion as it goes through the house, and this year I realized something for the first time: the lion carries a katana sword in its mouth during those occassions.
I thought katanas had been outlawed in Japan! This was definitely one of those situations where I didn't want to ask too many questions!
Pictures are some various scenes from the Yasaka Shrine Harvest Moon Festival.
At Yasaka Shrine
