Kirin Jishi Mai

The Kirin is a legendary animal from China revered as a symbol of peace and tranquility since ancient times. The Kirin Jishi dance, reminiscent of this imaginary animal, is performed as a traditional dance in the eastern region of Tottori Prefecture.
Tottori Toshogu Shrine was built in 1650 by Ikeda Mitsunaka, the first lord of Tottori. It is believed that the dance was first performed there in 1652 during a ceremony. Ever since then, it has spread to approximately 140 other areas as a ritual to bring forth good health and happiness. The dance is not only performed as a spiritual offering at spring and fall festivals in the Inaba area, but also on door-to-door visits to the homes of ujiko (shrine parishioners). The shojo, another imaginary animal mentioned in ancient Chinese records, takes the lead when performing the Kirin Jishi Mai. It is claimed that Mitsunaka incorporated the well-known shojo into the dance because he was a fan of Noh Theater.

The Kirin Jishi, wearing a lion’s head and bright red clothing, repeats a series of movements including slowly turning its head, moving along the ground as if crawling and reaching up high. The shojo carries a red staff and leads the Kirin Jishi while repeating a flowy dance, engaging in humorous scenes with the Kirin Jishi while spectators laugh.
Following the Meiji Period, the Kiriin Jishi dance phased out of the Tottori Toshogu Shrine where it was first performed while Ube Shrine inherited the performance and passed it on to other areas. The dance is performed at the April festival every year, while the lion heads, shojo masks and other important items are permanently displayed at the Sanshuden Assembly Hall on the shrine grounds. The dance is also performed every second May at Hijiri Shrine during a festival where many festival floats are brought out for the occasion.
The lion heads are also on display at the Inaba Manyo History Museum and the Loop Kirin Jishi Bus runs through Tottori City. Various Kirin Jishi sculptures dot the area surrounding Tottori Station and the magnificent Kirin Jishi Statue inside the Tottori Daimaru department store is a particularly popular photo spot.
In 2019 ’Mysterious Lands and Mesmerizing Sceneries Created by the Wind Rising Over the Sea of Japan／Inaba and Tajima:The Lands Where the Sacred Beast Dances – The Kirin‘ was certified as a Japan Heritage showing that the Kirin Jishi dance is deeply connected to the lives of locals.

One of the best sightseeing spots in the eastern part of Tottori Prefecture is the Tottori Castle Ruins, where the tradition of Kirin Jishi Mai lives on. This mountain castle, chosen as the number one ‘Must Visit Mountain Castle’ (Rekishido Magazine, 2021) is home to as many relics of various periods that it could be called a ‘castle museum’. There is also a rare spherical stone wall and an outer citadel that overlooks the surrounding town.
The Wakasa area, selected by the Japanese government as an Important Preservation District of Historic Buildings in August 2021, is another spot definitely worth visiting. Here visitors can find precious cultural artifacts preserved by predecessors including townhouses, storehouses and the charming architecture of a mountain merchant town. Enjoy a relaxing walk while basking in the nostalgic vibe of the town.
The Tottori Folk Crafts Museum is another popular spot that is about to celebrate 100 years of activities in the folk craft movement. The art museum was established by Shoya Yoshida, a local Tottori City doctor known as the ‘Folk Craft Producer.’ Nearly 5000 valuable items are displayed in the storehouse-style building, with many works collected not only from Japan, but also from Korea, China and Western Europe. Near the museum, visitors can find stores selling folk craft souvenirs and restaurants with local delicacies.