The sacred dance of Iwami Kagura: a dynamic tradition of Japan
On the 5th of September, 2025, Malta hosted a cultural event in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The program featured “The Sacred Dance of Iwami Kagura: A Dynamic Tradition of Japan”, held at the historic Old Manuel Theatre.
The performance showcased a wide array of musical instruments, artistic expressions, striking costumes, and expressive masks, offering the audience an opportunity to encounter one of Japan’s most vibrant performing arts.
The event was realized by Japanese artists deeply rooted in the practice of Iwami Kagura, a traditional dance-drama originating from the city of Hamada in southwest Japan. While today Iwami Kagura is performed on professional stages around the world, it remains connected to its origins as a ritual within Shinto shrines, historically dedicated to the gods to ensure protection, prosperity, and harmony between the human and natural worlds.
The performance opened with a group of musicians—men carrying drums and flutes—who set the rhythm and atmosphere before stepping aside for the dramatic entry of the deities.
The first scene presented the appearance of Yamato, a heroic figure of archery and war, who faced the tremendous King of Demons. Emerging from his distant realm to threaten the living world, the demon was opposed by Yamato with his sacred bow and arrows. This confrontation between divine justice and destructive forces is a central theme of Iwami Kagura, reflecting both spiritual symbolism and the human struggle against chaos.
The tone shifted with the arrival of a comic and joyful figure: Ebisu, the god of bountiful catches and prosperous business. With his cheerful mask and fishing rod, he embodied abundance and happiness.
His lively dance, despite the effort of reeling in a large fish, illustrated his enduring good nature and role as a bringer of fortune. Ebisu’s appearance reminded the audience that Kagura combines the sacred with the playful, the solemn with the celebratory.
After the interval, the stage transformed for the legendary tale of Susanoo, the storm god, who confronted the fearsome serpent Orochi.
Two rustic figures—elderly peasants in rural costume—entered first, accompanied by Inada no Hime, the last surviving daughter of the earthly family threatened by the serpent. Their presence set the scene for Susanoo’s heroic struggle.
The appearance of Orochi, represented as a multi-headed dragon with fire and movement, filled the stage with intensity. In Japanese mythology, Orochi symbolizes natural disasters such as floods, and the story dramatizes humanity’s attempts to endure and overcome the forces of nature.
Susanoo’s victory, achieved through courage and divine strength, concluded with the serpent subdued at the edge of the stage, to the delight of the audience.
The evening’s performance—part of a series presented annually around the world—was not only a spectacle of music, dance, and theater but also an immersion into the symbolic world of Japanese mythology.
Rooted in Shinto tradition yet shared through contemporary performance, Iwami Kagura exemplifies how ancient practices continue to inspire, adapt, and connect across cultures.
This event, in addition to entertaining its audience, reaffirmed the bonds of harmony and friendship between Malta and Japan.