2023 Kitahiroshima Presents KAGURA Divine Tales from Japan (Dramatic Storytelling, Live Music, Dazzling Costumes, High-Energy Dancing..)NEW

Prepare to experience the magic of Hiroshima Kagura, a dynamic traditional performing art that combines dramatic storytelling, live music, dazzling costumes, high-energy dancing, and more!

Join us for two of the most famous Hiroshima Kagura plays: Yamata-no-Orochi and Momiji-gari. In Yamata-no-Orochi, watch a powerful god take on a fearsome eight-headed snake demon bent on devouring a beautiful maiden, and in Momiji-gari, you’ll be transported back in time to a lavish maple leaf-viewing party whose charming hostesses are more than meets the eye. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to see Hiroshima’s finest traditional performing art live and in person!

Date
Nov 19, 2023

Time
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Location
Aratani Theatre, 244 South San Pedro St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

About
Japanese Kagura
Kagura is a traditional performing art that celebrates and expresses gratitude for the bounties of nature.

The ancestors of the Japanese people believed that everything that happened was because of the gods. During the autumn harvest, crops were used as offerings to the gods, and festivals were held all over Japan. These festivals included kagura as a gesture of gratitude to the gods for a plentiful harvest.

It was during this period in history that Shinto Shrines were being built around the country, and kagura spread with it. Today, the art and legacy of kagura continue in many different shapes and forms, passed down from generation to generation from the Shinto priesthood to the local community.

Hiroshima Kagura
The Kagura you will see today is called “Geihoku Kagura”(Northern Hiroshima) and has been preserved and passed along in Hiroshima Prefecture through approximately 150 groups.

Furthermore, numerous competitions have been held and at present, it is the type of Kagura gathering the most attention.

Though the performers have to study and work, they attend practice two to three times a week and perform at festivals and events on the weekends.

There are said to be over 70 kagura plays at present, including prewar period programs and those created during the postwar period.

Paid Parking is Available
Nearby at Joe's Auto Parks/Sho Tokyo on 350 East 2nd Street for $15 (rates may vary). Metered parking in Little Tokyo is also available and free after 8 pm.