来訪神と神楽 について
In Shiiba Kagura, a performance in which a mountain god visits Mikouya and asks for lodging for the night is transmitted to Takenoedao and Wakamiya. They appear wearing torn hats and straw mats and carrying bamboo sticks, and exchange questions and answers with the owner of the kagura inn. In the question and answer, he is referred to as 'Gozanjin'. Kagura, in which mountain deities come to visit, is transmitted here. At the grand festival of Togashita Kagura in the neighbouring village of Morozuka to the east, there is also a performance called 'Yamamori', in which a man cuts a branch of vertebrae from the mountain, appears in Mikoya, and after questioning and answering with the priest, gives over the staff and belongings of the mountain guardian. The 'Shiba-arashin' and 'Tsuna-arashin', which are performed at the great festivals of Take-no-Edao, Tsugao and Okochi, are also visiting deities. Both of these two types of Aragami are preceded by an intrusion into the Mikoya by young men. In the case of the Shiba-arashin, the youths hold a bush in their hands and a bell and a staff for the dancers, which they call "Shibai-iriri". In the case of the 'shiba-arashin', they enter with straw snakes, known as 'tsuna-iri'. In both cases, there is a question-and-answer session with the priest, who tells the story of the origin of the Aragami. The Aragami sits on the drum while the priest stands and continues to ask questions, holding the gohei (staff). In the case of Takenoedao, the priest sits on the drum. At the end of the question and answer session, Aragami hands the staff to the priest. The intrusion of young men and the entry of straw snakes into Mikoya are thought to be a kind of ritual for the god's visit to Mikoya.