Lion Dance on a Float

The ritual Japanese Lion Dance, “Shishimai”, is usually performed by one or two dancers, wearing a lion mask.
All over the Iida area, mammoth-sized Shishimai lion floats (“Yatai-jishi”), some over 10 meters long, by more than 10 people, parade through the streets.
Every October, when the “Minami-Shinshu (Southern Nagano) Shishimai Festival” is held, more than 20 Shishimai groups gather and present exciting and unique performances.
In “Iida Oneri Matsuri”, held once in seven years, a very large, 25 meters long, Shishimai lion named “Higashino-Oh-Jishi”, appears and attracts overwhelmed spectators.