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Chinese and Japanese style are combined to form most of the buildings,
but the Kaguraden is pure Japanese style construction. It is about
5.4 square meters, and it consists of two parts. Front side of the
building is used as a stage, while the rest of the space is used
as locker room. In addition, backside of the building faces the
corridor. Shutters are equipped on the sleeve of the stage. Audience
can watch well when the shutters are open up. The maidens of Yaotome
perform court dance with music on the stage in the Spring Festival.
Yaotome literally means eight maidens.
They used to serve for Futarasan Shrine until Toshogu was built.
After that, Yaotome became hereditary system. There is no longer
Yaotome system in Toshogu today, but maidens come to Toshogu Shrine
for help from Futarasan Shrine in the case of the festival.
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