The Yaotome Maiden Dance is elegant, and its history goes back to the early times. That dance will be performed in Futarasan Shrine in Yayoi festival of April.

Maidens face to the Shinden divine hall to offer the dance to the God, so they do not face to the visitors. Dancers wear white shirts and red skirt. Two or four maidens dance with traditional back music.

There are three styles of dance such as Shiki-kagura, Haya-kagura, Kenno-mai. Also, Goheino-mai, Gozen-kagura, Sakaki-mai, Hinoki-mai, Ougi-mai (Fan dance), Tsurugi-mai (Sword dance), Futara-mai, Hoko-mai (Halberd dance) are listed on the program. Each dance takes about 5 minutes.

This Yaotome divine dance will be performed not only in Yayoisai festival, but also in Kitousai festival of praying. You will have a chance to see that dance because it has been performed frequently.

By the way, Yaotome literally means eight maidens, but the dance is not performed by eight maidens nowadays. Number of maidens has been decreasing as time goes by.