| Tsuwano Dancing | Nationwide TOP | |||
Nationwide
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| The dress of Tsuwano Dancing is famous for the mask "Go kouso zukin"
and white yukata. The dress with the simple tone of black and white looks
attractive in the street of Tsuwano which is also called "The Little
Kyoto of San-in region" and there is an old-fashioned and elegant
charm. Formerly, the make-up of women was charming, not like that of men, but at present, it seems that men and women danced in the same make-up as the make-up of conservation party. |
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| Kaburi-mono (Headgear) Black Hood (Go kouso zukin) ,White headband |
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| In Bon Dancing danced in various places, there are folk customs that they cover their head with woven hats and towel and many other headgears. The most characteristic and elegant among these headgears would be "Hikosa zukin" of Nishimonai Bon Dancing in Akita as the representative of east Japan, and "Go kouso zukin" of the Tsuwano Dancing would be the representative of the west Japan. While Hikosa zukin is the mask of a young girl, Go kouso zukin is a make-up of the male dancers (At present, the women of the conservation party also wear it). This stems from the oral tradition that it was the make-up of the samurai when they captured Konkono Castle. |
 Go kouso zukin |
Also, while "Hikosa zukin" is a "mask" type which they cover the head completely and make a hole for the eyes, "Go kouso zukin" is a rather orthodox type of hood that open the part of the eyes and nose in a triangle in the upper part of the face. Therefore, it reminds us of the dress of the samurai of the Middle Ages to modern times. Also, they slew the white headband over the hood and tie in the back. In the front of the headband; "Yotsume mon (four eyed crest)"; the crest of the Kamei Family which we can also find in the oral tradition of origin is entered. Mr. Iwao Yatomi, the author of "Sagimai to Tsuwano (Egret Dance and Tsuwano)" points out that the costume with the crest is unsuitable as the dress was originally intended to disguise the enemy so as to capture the castle, and it would be inconvenient if the identity is known to the enemy. However, he remarks that if you look at it as a fashion, "It is not bothering at all". I agree to him. Formerly, they say that the women danced with a hat made of braided straw on their head. |
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| Another big characteristic of the dress of Tsuwano Dancing is white yukata. The scene that they dance with the long sleeved-kimono that even touches the ground and slowly waving it while dancing produces a fantastic atmosphere. Yotsume mon (four eyed crest) is entered in the sleeve as I thought. It is elegant that a pretty bell is attached to the cuff. You put on a kado-obi over the yukata and tuck up the yukata. You wear black underpants on the legs. According to the oral tradition, the samurai troops who attacked the castle entered dancing to the castle town hiding the armor under this costume. Mr. Iwao Yatomi says in his book that, "These black costumes are the symbol of mourning…"However, in the Japanese folk customs before the modernization, the color of mourning was basically "white", and we must examine considering the manners and customs of the samurai. Though, the composition of the costume which is black and white as a whole does actually make one recall of the funeral services. |
 White yukata |
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 a pretty bell |
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| Torimono (Belongings) - Uchiwa (a round fan)
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| Uchiwa is an inevitable accompaniment to Bon Dancing. They also use Uchiwa in Tsuwano Dancing, but what is peculiar in this dance is that they attach the Uchiwa to the left side of their head with a headband instead of holding it in the hand or putting it between the obi, and it hands down a unique appearance. In case of Uchiwa, it can be considered that the tradition of "anchorage of the spirits" in the Middle Ages remained such as to hold in the hand or shoulder a bamboo like thing. Other examples for "anchorage of the spirits" on the head would be traditions such as "Hanagasa" which you attach flowers to woven hats. The outfit of Tsuwano which you put Uchiwa into the headband can be thought that it has a strong meaning as an "anchorage of spirits", and we can say that it is expressing it with an elegant Tsuwano style. |
 Uchiwa |
| Footwear-White tabi, snow geta |
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| The costumes of the dancers are contrasted with black and white from the
head down to the toe. The feet are also dressed with white tabi and snow
geta with black thong. |
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