Iwate, the Last Frontier

LIVING SPIRIT

The dawn fire that dwells in the hearts of quiet people

“In song and dance”

The people of Iwate have a custom of performing arts in which they pray to the gods and Buddha and spirits while performing songs and dances. These performing arts are often performed at traditional festivals and ceremonies and are performed to pray for various things such as; a good harvest, a memorial service for ancestors, the expulsion of evil spirits, and wishing for the peace of the hometown and family.

Scroll down

These performing arts have been passed down from generation to generation as a traditional culture by groups of local residents in each region and have a wide variety of forms.

“Kagura” portrays the story of a prestigious Japanese myth with the face of the gods. “Onikenbai”, or the Devil's Sword Dance, dances bravely with a menacing demon face. “Shishi Odori” is a dance where performers dance in the form of unusual beasts with various animal characteristics such as cows, deer, and dragons.

Many of these performing arts are characterized by acting as non-humans such as gods, demons, and beasts. The origin of that spirituality can be traced back to the shamans and animism of ancient times.

LIVING SPIRIT

“In prayer”

Historically, the people of Iwate have lived through repeated hardships such as disasters and famine. Life in this area always involved prayers, such as prayers for the souls of the deceased, prayers for birth and for regeneration.

In regards to the way of thinking about human life and death, you can see a unique idea nurtured in the local culture that does not quite fit into the beliefs of ​​Buddhism and Shinto, which are the general religions of Japan.

In Iwate, many mountains are thought of as sanctuaries and are the object of worship. There is also the idea that the human soul returns to the mountain when one dies and descends from the mountain again to be reborn.
Such beliefs and views of life and death can be thought of as a form of primitive prayer that has been practiced in Japan for tens of thousands of years, long before Buddhism and Shinto were introduced.

  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT

“In life”

Iwate is covered by the severe cold of winter for half of the year, forming a very harsh climate. This meant, that the way of eating became synonymous with how to survive through this long and dark season. As such, this wisdom of living that was cultivated to survive in this harsh climate has created a unique local food culture and preserved food culture.

Since the introduction of rice cultivation, rice has become an indispensable food, and people have come to view rice itself as sacred. Straw work, a traditional craft, was not only a tool for daily life, but also a tool for “wish making”. Straw made from this sacred rice was believed to have special power, so it made sense that people would use straw as a material.

The people of Iwate have incorporated many rituals and customs believed to bring a good harvest into their daily lives, hoping that this good fortune may be passed onto the next generation. With modernization, these rituals and customs are being lost, but there are still quite a few people in Iwate who continue to live their lives in harmony with nature.

  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT

Tour Information

  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT
  • LIVING SPIRIT

#01

Living with Horses

Duration
about5hours
SEASON
Spring-Autumn
LOCATION
Tono
NB DAYS
1
NB PERS
1-10
Special features
  • Tono has been the horse production area, and horses were an essential part of life and livelihood.
  • Learn about the culture and history of the partnership of humen and horses.
  • Spend relaxed time with a horse.

#02

Over the Neighboring Border Enter the Neighboring Darkness

Duration
about1day
SEASON
Spring-Autumn
LOCATION
Tono
NB DAYS
1
NB PERS
1-10
Special features
  • Walk into a mountain with hunters and learn their belief and manners when confronting animals.
  • Prepare and enjoy wild game food.
  • Hear the story of the legendary hunter who appears in folk legends in Tono.

#03

Taste of Local Life

Duration
about2-5hours
SEASON
All seasons
LOCATION
Hachimantai
NB DAYS
1
NB PERS
1-8
Special features
  • Enjoy seasonal local foods (wild vegetables, mushrooms, vegetables, soba, wild grapes, etc.) directly from the farm.
  • Experience the lives of local residents who live in 100-years-old wooden house.
  • Spent a relaxing time in the scenery of the nature as if you lived there.
  • You can listen to stories about farmers, masters of wild vegetables and mushrooms, vine leather craftsmen, woodworkers, matagi, nature guides, etc., as well as stories about the character and way of life of local people.

#04

Performing Arts

Duration
about3hours
SEASON
All seasons
LOCATION
Tono
NB DAYS
1
NB PERS
1-10
Special features
  • Learn the essence of local performing arts as an expression of prayer.
  • Get a new perspective of the relationship of human and the nature through the appreciation of Shishi-odori dance and the experience of dancing.
  • You can enjoy the Interaction with local people who inherit traditional performing arts.

#05

Disaster and Belief

Duration
about5hours
SEASON
All seasons
LOCATION
Kamaishi
NB DAYS
1
NB PERS
1-10
Special features
  • Learn about life as a fisherman in Kamaishi area.
  • Hear about the hardship that comes with living with the ocean and why they continue to do so.
  • Enjoy cooking a local lunch with some of the local residents.

Inquiry & Reservation

We kindly ask you to fill out the contact form below for inquiries regarding availability, price, equipment, lodging and any other arrangements.

Namerequired
Countryrequired
Messagerequired

The information provided will be used solely for the purpose of the inquiry.

 

Iwate, the Last Frontier