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Karako Dance
Karako Dance
Prefecturally Designated Intangible Folk Cultural Property (designated 1960)
Konnoura district, Ushimado
The ‘Karako Dance’ is a traditional religious performing art of Konnoura district, Ushimado in which two young boys in Asian influenced attire dance together in sync to music, played on a kanko (small drums) and yokobue (traditional Japanese flute). While there is also a sung component to the music, the meaning of the lyrics is unknown. What is also unclear is when or why this dance was first invented, though literary sources indicate that it was being performed by at least the latter part of the 18th century.
During the Ushimado Autumn Festival in October, it is performed at four locations across the district, including at Yaku Shrine, which houses the local deity of Konnoura.
