Kids Web Japan

A performance at Ichinomiyaotoshi Shrine

For the troupe, the biggest moment of the year comes on November 2, when the fall festival is held at Otoshi Shrine. Because the Hongo Children's Kagura Troupe is affiliated with this shrine, family, friends, and most of the people in the neighborhood come to watch the performance. The troupe also regularly performs at the Sandankyo Spring Festival and the Togouchi Festival. In 2003 the troupe performed at a children's kagura festival held at Hiroshima's Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage Site. The kids are also often asked to perform at ceremonies on Respect for the Aged Day, class reunions, and weddings. Sometimes they are even asked to perform at two locations on the same day, so they break into two groups.

Performing at an out-of-town event

Performances regularly attract crowds of 2,000 people, and the group has even performed in front of a crowd of 7,000 at a kagura joint performance. The children enjoy these performances, because they all get to travel together on a rented bus as though they were going on a trip. They get to have juice and snacks, and at the major events they can also learn more about performing kagura by watching the performances of other troupes.