Dancing Among the Gods: Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture

Overview

Takachiho is located in a mountainous area in central Kyushu. According to Japanese mythology, Takachiho is said to be the place where the gods descended from heaven. There, you can still find many things and places that are related to these ancient stories. One of the mythical ruins is Amano-Yasukawara. The cave is said to be a place where the gods gathered to discuss what to do when a sun goddess hid herself, plunging the world into darkness. However, the highlight of this trip is a traditional dance called "Kagura" which is passed down From one generation to another for almost a thousand years. The dances which include stories from the old myths are performed all through the night to thank the gods for a good harvest. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Peter MacMillan travels to Takachiho and discovers how Japanese people have lived with gods from the ancient time.