Kagura Costume: Happi

Kagura is one of the traditional Japanese performing arts, consisting of songs and dances performed before the gods during festivals. Kagura performances often depict myths, and the performers, called maite, portray gods while wearing costumes and masks. This item is a kagura costume, one of the 257 items in the Nakamoto Family Kagura Collection. The items in this collection were used by the Nakamoto family, who first performed kagura at the Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine (in Saitama Prefecture) since the Meiji Period (1868-1912). All items in the collection have been preserved together and are a complete set of items a kagura troupe would need to perform. This item is a type of costume called happi, which is an upper garment worn by a female god. A gold-brocaded tortoiseshell pattern of diamond-shaped flowers represents long life and happiness. Gold-brocaded happi could also be worn by high-ranking male gods. Cultural Properties Designated by Saitama Prefecture.