Structural Analysis of the Dance Within the Odaidai Ceremony of Kawaguchi Asama Shrine: Choreography, Music, and Meaning

The Odaidai ceremony at Kawaguchi Asama Shrine, a unique kagura dance performed annually to appease Mt. Fuji and prevent volcanic eruptions, retains deep ritualistic significance despite its contemporary role as entertainment. This study reveals that the dance's choreography and music, though transmitted orally without theatrical elements, preserve embedded ritual connotations when executed correctly. By analyzing repetitive sections of the performance, researchers identified connections between movements and religio-ritual meaning, challenging existing definitions of kagura functionality. The findings suggest that even as the ceremony's original purpose has faded from collective memory, its structural integrity sustains its symbolic power.

HIRAI, A. (2022). Structural Analysis of the Dance Within the Odaidai Ceremony of Kawaguchi Asama Shrine: Choreography, Music, and Meaning. Journal of Asian Humanities at Kyushu University, 7, 47–60. https://doi.org/10.5109/4843129