Furyu is a sacred performance held every autumn to show appreciation towards the deities for a year of abundant crops and it is practiced in all regions throughout Saga prefecture. The word "Furyu" is said to have originated from "Fuuryu", a form of amusement from the Heian Period. Modern day Furyu involves dancers dancing to the rhythm of gongos and taiko drums. There are many different types of Furyu dances in Saga prefecture, however Menburyu, mainly carried on in the southwest of the prefecture, is particularly famous throughout Japan. Kashima city's "Otonashi" and "Hogaura" Menburyu dances have been designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Properties of Saga prefecture. Menburyu is a form of mask dance, with the lead dancer wearing a Hannya mask, or a mask representing a jealous female serpent. This person dances violently and boldly. Menburyu's origins lie in a legend which says, when Ohtomo's troops from the land of Bungo attacked Hizen, Ryuzoji's Naoshige Nabeshima put demon masks and red wigs on his domain members and used jingane gongs, drums and whistles to attack the enemy at night, resulting in victory. "Tentsukumya" is the name of the dance where dancers don a crest on their heads called a "tentsuki", which is shaped like a half-moon and features a drawing of a dragon, while dancing to the rhythm of gongs and taiko drums. Famous Tentsukumya dances are Yoneta Furyu of Kamimine town or the Tentsukumya of Ichikawa, Fuji town, Saga city. These are both designated as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties of Saga prefecture.
All Furyu dancers don masks or cover their mouths with hand towels, and people who do this are considered to be an incarnation of Buddha, according to an ancient Saga belief. This indicates that Furyu was a very sacred event.
Otonari Menburyu (Kashima)
● Date: 2nd Sunday of September every year
● Venue: Tenshi Shrine in Nanaura Otonari, Kashima-shi
● Access:
From train station: 5-minute walk from Hizen-Nanaura Station on the JR Nagasaki Main Line
20-minute taxi ride from Hizen-Kashima Station on the JR Nagasaki Main Line
Car: 60-minute drive from Nagasaki Expressway Takeo-Kitagata IC
Bus: Get on Yutoku Bus bound for Kenkai at Kashima Bus Center, get off at “Otonari” stop, and walk for 5 minutes
● Contact: Division of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Kashima City Government, Tel: +81-9546-3-2111
Hougaura Menburyu (Kashima)
● Date: 2nd Sunday of September every year
● Venue: Chinshu Shrine in Nanaura Hougaura, Kashima-shi
● Access:
From train station: 30-minute walk from Hizen-Nanaura Station on the JR Nagasaki Main Line
15-minute taxi ride from Hizen-Kashima Station on the JR Nagasaki Main Line
Car: 55-minute drive from Nagasaki Expressway Takeo-Kitagata IC
Bus: Get on Yutoku Bus bound for Kenkai at Kashima Bus Center, get off at Biwankobashi stop, and walk for 10 minutes
● Contact: Division of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Kashima City Government, Tel: +81-9546-3-2111
Meta Furyu (Kamimine)
● Period: Mid- to end-October (held every other year; the next Furyu is to be held in 1999)
● Venue: Oimatsu Shrine in Maemuta, Kamimine-cho, Miyaki-gun
● Access:
From train station: 6-minute taxi ride from Yoshinogari-koen Station on the JR Nagasaki Main Line
Car: 12-minute drive from Nagasaki Expressway Higashi-sefuri IC
● Contact: Kamimine Furusato Gakkan Hall, Tel: +81-952-52-4934
Ichikawa Tentsukumai Furyu (Fuji, Saga)
● Date: Sunday in mid-October every year
● Venue: Suwa Shrine, Ichikawa, Fuji-cho, Saga-shi
● Access:
From train station: 45-minute drive from Saga Station on the JR Nagasaki Main Line
Car: 30-minute drive from Nagasaki Expressway Saga-Yamato IC
● Contact: Fuji Branch Office, Saga City Government, Tel: +81-952-58-2111
