​​​Japanese Earth Friendly studio by a Certified Kimono Consultant, Kimono Model/Photographer, Edo Tsumami Kanzashi Artisan, and Shinto Priestess.

神楽　KAGURA - SHINTO THEATRICAL SACRED DANCE

神楽は神道の神事において、祈祷または神に奉納されるために奏される歌舞です。

その起源はとても古く、古事記や日本書紀に記されている【天照大御神の岩戸隠れ】において、アメノウズメノミコト（天宇受賣命、天鈿女命）の《神懸かりした歌舞》とされています。八百万の神と共に「笑ひゑらぐ」様子を、不思議に思った天照大御神。外を覗こうとした際に天手力男神に手を引かれ岩戸からお出になり、世界はまた明るく照らされることになりました。

神楽の語源とされる「神座（かむくら・かみくら）」は、「神が宿るところ」「招魂・鎮魂を行うところ」を意味し、神座で巫女が人々の穢れを祓ったり、神懸かりをして人々と交流するなど神人一体の宴の場、五穀豊穣、災厄の清祓、豊作への御礼であった歌舞が、神楽と呼ばれるようになったとされます。

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平成29年10月から【特定非営利活動法人 里神楽・神代神楽研究会】の加藤俊彦先生に厚き御教授を頂き、米国で神楽を奉納させて頂く運びとなりました。

戸越八幡神社様の大石則子禰宜様より、巫女舞【浦安の舞】を御教授頂きました。香取神社様より、朝日舞を御教授頂きました。

奉納舞の御依頼につきましては、どうぞ御気軽にお問合せ下さい。

​演目：禊祓、天狐、浦安の舞(巫女舞)、さくら姫の舞、お月見の舞、清祓、朝日舞(宮司舞)、天孫降臨連れ舞(猿田彦神と天鈿女命)、巫女連れ舞

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【神楽の御弟子さん受付中】
神奈備万有乃杜では、神楽を学び、奉納舞を御奉仕なさりたい御弟子さんを受け付けております。御稽古は筆記講義・実技練習を含め、月に一度から。
詳細は直接お問合せ下さい。受講資格は下記の通りです。
 

・神々への畏敬と畏怖の念ありきで、真摯に真心を込めて御奉仕できる方。「自己満足、趣味、名声のため」といった考えが見受けられる場合はお断りいたします。
・基本的な規律と責任感が備わっており、連絡事項を適切に出来る方。またはそれらを謙虚に学び、伴わせる姿勢を見込める方。
・先生・御稽古場・奉納舞台関係者・願い主様方に敬意を示せる方。
・最低限の礼儀作法が伴っている、またはそれらを謙虚に学び、伴わせる姿勢を見込める方。
・伝統文化の御稽古事に則した慣習や、礼儀作法を謙虚に学ぶ姿勢を見込める方。
・対面稽古に自身の運転で通える地元の方：メリーランド州、ヴァージニア州、ウェストヴァージニア州、ペンシルベニア州、デラウェア州、ニュージャージー州

・新型コロナ肺炎に伴う稽古場の対策を、適切に守れる方。

・御奉納の際、顔出しで写真や映像に記録され、公に公開されることに同意できる方。

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[ KAGURA SHINTO SACRED DANCE ]

Kagura is a Shinto theatrical sacred dance offered to Kami by Shinto priest/priestess/dancer, as well as them embodying Kami to bless the site and people at the Shinto ceremonies.

Its history goes back to Japanese mythology “Ama-no-Iwato”, the heavenly cave where the Sun goddess Amaterasu-Oomikami hid and the world turned dark without the Sun light. One of the several attempts to bring the Sun goddess Amaterasu-Oomikami out of the cave was Ame-no-uzume-no-mikoto, the deity of performing arts and the most ancient dancer in Japan offering the shamanistic dance by her divine possession/representative of a divine spirit. Hearing countless deities outside of the cave laughing and having joyful time for watching her dance, Amaterasu-Oomikami came out to peek. Kami outside showed her the mirror to reflect her face as more noble Kami than her, and she tried to take a closer look. All the sudden, her body was completely pulled out of the cave as Ame-no-tadikarao-no-kami pulled her arm. Then the whole world was shined once again by the divine sunlight.

Please contact Rev. Kanawa if you would like to request Kagura.

Number: Misogi-Harae (spirit and physical purification), Tenko (heavenly Fox), Urayasu-no-mai (shrine maiden dance), Sakura-hime-no-mai (Cherry blossom princess's dance), Otsukimi-no-mai (Moon viewing dance), Kiyo-harae (Oonusa / bow and arrow / sword cleansing purification), Asahi-mai (Sunrise dance by head Shinto priestess), Pair dance of Sarutahiko-o-kami and Ame-no-uzume from Tenson-Kourin (the descent to earth of the grandson of the sun goddess), Miko pair dance

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[ Accepting Sincere Students to learn and offer Kagura ]
Kamunabi Ban'yu Ko-Shinto Shrine is accepting Kagura students who would like to reverently offer Kagura at the ceremonies.

The lesson is a monthly base for written academic lectures and practical practices.

Please send inquiry for more details. You will be qualified to enroll if you are:

- Truly reverent to offer Kagura to Kami, serve wishers sincerely/wholeheartedly (Not for self-satisfaction, short period experience, or to gain fame)
- Organized, disciplined, responsible, have a proper sense of timely manner, or willing to learn them humbly
- Respect the teacher, practice site, ceremonial stage and wishers.
- Able to present the universal standard communication manners or humbly willing to learn them
- Willing to humbly learn and follow the traditional Japanese class customs/decorum
- Local to east coast and drivable to lessons and ceremonial sites: Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey

- Follow the class Covid-19 measures properly

- Understand and agree that your face will be visible publicly at the ceremonies which will be photographed and videotaped for public release

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[ Miko shrine maiden Kagura and Shusshi student Miko Policy ]

* All Miko traditionally go through the classical training by the shrines or licensed clergies including at Kamunabi Ban'yū Ko-Shintō Shrine, in order to be approved to serve Kami even though a license is not required to become a Miko today. (Some licensed clergy play a role of Miko often)

* While under the training, they are called "Shusshi Miko", means a student who is not yet the level of approved official Miko.

* One is considered as a shusshi student Miko, only during the serving duty/period under the assigned shrine/licensed clergy. Once retired from class, they are no longer shusshi Miko and its title should not be used. Needless to say, Miko uniform should not be worn for any occasions outside of the classes / trainer's shrine/ceremonies nor Miko Kagura to be danced on their own outside of the trainer's shrine/ceremonies. Those who disrespect and break this policy will be handled accordingly.