Iwami Kagura Performance

Hailing from the gorgeous rural town of Iwami in the western part of Shimane prefecture, the Iwami Kagura dance is a traditional, mythological performance that’s the pride of the region. Every autumn, a troupe of Iwami Kagura dancers perform at various temples in the region, and many Shimane-born folks make the pilgrimage back home just to watch them. This summer, you can catch the traditional dance in Tokyo for one day only at Theater 1010. It involves elaborate make-up, costumes and effects – including giant ‘snakes’ – and brings to life legends from Japan’s two oldest mythological tomes: the Kojiki and the Nihon-Shoki chronicles.