User:Mimissu/Shishi-odori (The Lion Dance)

The Lion Dance Shishi-odori 獅子踊り (which is not to be mistaken with Shika-odori, The Deer Dance, sometimes read as Shishi-odori 鹿踊り) is a traditional Japanese ritual danse from Yamagata Prefecture in Tôhoku region. The Lion Danse is generally executed during Mid-August period's summer festivals. Shishi-odori 's performances mostly occur in Tsuruoka City's Fujishima 藤島 area, in Asahi machi and in Shinjô City.

Lion Dance's highlights
The Lion Dance is a traditional compound of 5 dancers dressed in a blue cape under which they hide a Japanese Traditional drum. But the most characteristic element of the Shishi Odori Dance's dancers' appearance is their mask, that represents a Shishi head. Shishi, which could be translated as "Asian Lion", were born in the Chinese legend tales. With the spread of Chinese Culture during the early times of Japan's history, Japanese people started to represent themselves Lions the way Chinese created Shishi. This is why the mask's aspect is very far from what we nowadays would think of when talking about Lions. Several types of "Shishi" compose this dance, such as: "The Central Shishi" 中獅子, the Flag-bearer 旗獅子, the White Heron 白鷺, the Male Shishi 牡獅子, and the Female Shishi 牝獅子 (recognizable by the red color of the flower garment on her mask - which are white for the males). Apart from them, The Bamboo Whisk warrior 女装の簓 (who most of the time is a man disguised as a woman), The Longsword warrior 太刀遣い, the Wooden stick warrior 棒遣い, and the singers. In total, no less than 30 persons take part in Shishi-odori.

The performance consists in several dance movements, which differ depending the kind of festival that hosts it, and even the city where it is held. However, we can establish a general list of the most common "movements" that can be found in most of the dances, which are: "The Main Dance", "The Scene Crossing", "The Curtains Crossing", "The Courtship" (during which the 4 male Lions attempt to seduce the Female or even fight themselves to obtain her attention), and the Bow Dance.

The dancers repeatedly tilt their head fast so that the little bells on their mask ring, and to make the little ornaments on it move. The body movements, very heavy and large, responding to the rhythm of the drum, are also a typical element of Shishi-odori.