Image search results - "kenketo" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "kenketo"

At the Otabisho in Maeno at around 1 pm, they hold a ceremony. Then the Kenketo procession, led by the shrine priest, head for Tagi Shrine.

Kenketo dancers, wearing peacock feathers, are carried on shoulders.

Kenketo procession passing by tea field.

After going up the steps, the procession reached the shrine at about 1:45 pm.

Behind the shrine priest are three festival umbrellas. 三基の傘鉾（日、月、矢）

After the festival umbrellas, the young boys started their kenketo odori dance on the baba area. 馬場踊り

Kenketo Odori is a dance performed by eight boys aged 7 to 12. The dance was originally started to ward off calamities. The boys wear tall peacock feathers on their heads.

They dance to live music with drums, bell, and flute. The Kenketo Odori dance of Tagi Shrine is a National Intangible Folk Cultural Property. 国選択無形民俗文化財

Kenketo Odori Dance at Tagi Jinja Shrine in Tsuchiyama, Shiga Prefecture.

They perform the baba odori kenketo dance at the baba area.

Shrine parishioners from three districts (Maeno, Iwamuro, and Tokuhara (前野、徳原と甲賀町岩室) around the shrine participate in the Kenketo Matsuri. Each district takes turns providing the boys who dance each year.

Kenketo Odori dance at Tagi Shrine, Tsuchiyama, Shiga.

Besides the two baton twirlers at the front, there are these boys who play the drums and bell. They just danced across the baba once and stopped.

Up they go on human shoulders.

The kenketo dancers are put on men's shoulders whenever they are not dancing.

Kenketo dancer, Shiga

Kenketo dancers wearing peacock, pheasant and other bird feathers. Their feathered cap is called shagama. シャガマ

The next part of the festival featured numerous hanagasa flower umbrellas stuffed with little goodies.

The first hanagasa went directly to the kenketo dancers. They pulled out the little sticks attached with things like towels, gloves, and maybe some cash.

The fun part of the festival was when the hanagasa is offered to the crowd who fight over the spoils of the flower umbrella.

They knock down the flower umbrella and people rush in to grab something. They repeated this several times. This part of the festival is called Hanabai (花ばい).

Once in a while, a flower umbrella was dedicated only to the kenketo dancers so it went directly to them. There are 20 flower sticks on these flower umbrellas.

These kenketo dancers got a lot of goodies. They deserve it since they practiced hard for the dance.

This flower umbrella came all the way to where I was.

It's a real frenzy. I managed to pick up a plastic flower.

Also see my video at YouTube.

Kenketo dancer and his reward.

The boys were then taken to the shrine.

First, in front of Tagi Daimyojin-no-Miya Shrine, they danced and then danced around the shrine building a few times.

Kenketo dancers dancing around Tagi Daimyojin-no-Miya Shrine.

The boys were then taken to the other shrine.

The boys are taken to Tenmangu Shrine.

They danced in front of Tenmangu Shrine, then danced around the shrine a few times.

Also see my video at YouTube.

Due to the tall peacock feathers, the boys have to put their head down when going through the gate.

Festival spectators

They dance again in front of the shrine office. 社務所前で宮踊り

Then they took a break and most people left. After the break at 4 pm, they danced again at the baba and went to the Otabisho near Yasu River where a ceremony was held. The portable shrines are also carried around.

Festival waste material.

Kenketo Odori poster. The word "kenketo" is written in katakana, but the kanji is written as 献鶏頭 which is not accurate in meaning. It was just made up. No one is sure what kenketo means in Japanese.

Suginoki Jinja Shrine. A short walk from Yamanoue 山之上 bus stop from JR Omi-Hachiman Station. 杉之木神社 MAP

The main path to Suginoki Shrine in Ryuo where the Kenketo and naginata procession will come through. The Kenketo Matsuri festival is held annually on May 3. It features the naginata dance and more.

Stone monument commemorating Suginoki Shrine as the birthplace as the Naginata Matsuri festival. 薙刀踊り発祥の宮（石碑）　杉之木神社

Grounds of Suginoki Shrine and main venue for the Kenketo Festival in Ryuo.

Suginoki Shrine

Suginoki Shrine Honden Hall

Another path to the shrine decorated with paper lanterns.

On the day of the festival on May 3, the Kenketo and naginata dance are held at multiple shrines in the area including neighboring Higashi-Omi. This is Higashi Hiyoshi Shrine (short walk from Suginoki) where a kenketo procession was to arrive and dance.