Far backcountry life in Japan

In autumn, we have new rice crops. Thanks to huge harvest, Sasara-mai was held at Tomiyama area of Nakagawa-machi, which is one of the intangible folk cultural properties. Sasara is one of old musical instrument, which create scratch sound from notch of the stick. One of leading man “Sukko” has this sasara, so this dance is called sasara-mai. The other leading guy is called “Fukube” holding fukube and sanshonobo, but not sure what fukube and sanshonobo are. Small boy and girls did the lion dance.



There was rumor that name of Tomiyama is from Toyama which character is same. In Bato-onsen, old man told me some people from Toyama lived in Tomiyama and assume sasara-mai also brought from Toayama. Sasara is also used in Gokayama in Toyama and it makes sense to me.