Cultural Assets－Festivals

Katsuragi-odori originated in an Edo Period (1603 to 1867) dance that was performed to pray for rain or express gratitude for rain. It was performed by people from five villages located at the foot of Mount Izumi-Katsuragi: Tonohara, Sogawa, Kawai, Sobura, and Kotsumi. The villages were inhabited by parishioners of Hachidai-ryuo Shrine, which was located at the peak of the mountain. The tradition remains today only in Tonohara. Even in Tonohara, the dance fell out of practice several times after the Meiji Period (1868 to 1912), before being revived in 1955. The dance was designated an Intangible Cultural Property by Kishiwada city in 1956 and an Intangible Folk Cultural Property by Osaka Prefecture in 1993. Late in the afternoon on August 14 every year, children dressed in beautiful festive clothing dance and festive music is played on the grounds of Miroku-ji Temple in Tonohara.