Okina

翁 Okina

1 Source and/or Related Material

Unknown

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

This piece has no dramatic content, but instead consists of special ritual dances by three divine figures. Okina (shite) is a divine old man represented by a white mask, who opens the ritual by praying for universal peace and good harvests. The God of youth Senzai (tsure) performs a lively dance, and then Okina performs a stately dance. Finally, Sambasō (ai), a God of workers, peasants, and the land, who is represented by a wizened black mask, performs a lively dance called the Shakedown (momi no dan), followed by a dance with jingling bells (suzu no dan).