What is the significance of festivals in Japan?
Kagura (神楽) is a traditional form of Japanese ritual dance and music dedicated to the kami (deities) of Shinto. It is performed as an offering during religious ceremonies at Shinto shrines, often as part of festivals or rituals to ensure blessings, purification, or a bountiful harvest. Kagura has ancient origins and continues to play a significant role in Japanese spiritual and cultural life.
Aoumi Shrine Annual Autumn Festival
The tradition of 山開き (Yamabiraki), or "Mountain Opening," has its origins in Japan’s ancient spiritual beliefs and cultural practices, particularly those tied to Shintoism, Buddhism, and the veneration of nature.