Tamaseseri (Treasure Catching Festival)

A traditional Obon dance from Tokushima Prefecture with over 400 years of history. Famous for its catchphrase about fools dancing and watching fools. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Japan every August, making it one of Japan's largest dance festivals. Dancers form groups called ren and perform in a distinctive formation.

A New Year Sumo ceremony in Fukuoka. Young men participate bare-chested in a fierce ritual tug-of-war using a giant rope. A traditional ceremony praying for agricultural abundance and neighborhood safety, symbolizing seasonal transition through the contest between east and west teams. Continuing from the Edo period, it marks Fukuoka's transition from winter to spring.

An all-female musical theater troupe founded in 1914. Distinguished by its otokoyaku (male-role) and musumeyaku (female-role) system, it stages spectacular musicals and revues. With its unique star system and passionate fan culture, it occupies a singular position in Japanese entertainment history.

A traditional Japanese storytelling art where a single performer sits on a cushion using only a fan and towel to enact stories. Established in the Edo period, it features the technique of portraying multiple characters through masterful narration. English rakugo and young performers are recently attracting new audiences.

A festival dance originating in Kochi Prefecture, characterized by dancing with naruko (wooden clappers). The Kochi Yosakoi Festival, started in 1954, spread nationwide due to its flexibility allowing free choreography and costumes, evolving uniquely in each region including the 'YOSAKOI Soran Festival.'

An all-female revue founded in 1914. Its gorgeous musicals with female actors playing male roles are uniquely Japanese entertainment, drawing 2.5 million annually for over 100 years.

Japan's largest commercial theatre company. Known for Japanese-language productions of 'The Lion King' and 'Cats,' drawing 3 million annually. They established musical theatre culture in Japan.