The Tamashiki Shrine's “Izanagi Izanami no tsuremai” kagura

Field study

Abstract

Beyond the philological and historical analysis of sources such as Kojiki and Nihongi, the study of Japanese mythology can be approached from the perspective of anthropology and ethnology. Therefore, in order to obtain a more complete vision of mythological figures such as Izanami and Izanagi, an approach to their presence in some matsuri and kagura dances may be of interest.

This work presents a list and description of both the audiovisual materials and the results obtained in the field work carried out on 5th May 2018 in the Tamashiki sanctuary (Kazo, Saitama), during the shunki taisai (spring festival), among whose kagura was represented the mythical passage of the marriage between Izanami and Izanagi, under the title of Izanagi Izanami no tsuremai.