The lion dances, and the monkey clowns around ~Ohashi Koroku shrine Lion dance 胡録神社の獅子舞

Date; The evening of the last Saturday in October
Location; 769 Ōhashi, Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture: Koroku Shrine
Access; Hokuso Railway, Kitakokubun Station → 20 minutes’ walk
It takes about an hour to get from Tokyo to Kitakokubun by transferring between the JR, Keisei, and Hokuso Railway lines.

Preservation Society official https://www.shi-shi-ma-i.com/

Watch a lion dance near Tokyo

Since it’s the end of October, it gets dark early. As I walk through the residential neighborhood, which is now completely dark, the shrine I’m looking for comes into view.

The shrine grounds at the top of the stairs aren’t very large. A dance stage has been set up in front of the main hall, and spectators have already begun to gather. There are also several food stalls, a common sight at festivals. There seem to be a lot of children here.

Around 7:30 p.m., lions—led by a monkey—make their appearance from the main hall. This is the “three-lion dance,” a style common in the Kanto region where one person controls each lion. Another distinctive feature is that the dancers hold small drums against their chests.

Since the dance floor is small, the lions stand and twist their bodies as they pound the drums, while the monkey dances around them with comical gestures.

The playful monkey is a favorite among the children

The thing hanging behind the monkey is sometimes a tail, and sometimes something else. Since there are almost no accurate records of the lion dance, it is impossible to trace its detailed history; however, there are records dating back to the late 1700s, so it appears that the tradition was already in place by at least that time. This gives us a glimpse into just how open-minded the Japanese were about sex back then. That said, this isn’t just for fun; it’s imbued with the meaning of praying for a safe childbirth and a good marriage. In the past, all such matters were considered the domain of the gods. Of course, the kids don’t care about any of that; they just keep tugging on his tail and teasing him.

Before long, people around him begin handing the monkey their gift money. The monkey expresses his gratitude in an exaggerated manner and hands out tangerines in return. The children, finding this so much fun, are the ones who keep offering their gift money.

Since they were throwing mandarins, the kids were going wild. Before long, they even started a game of rock-paper-scissors.

When that happens, don’t you start to worry about the lions dancing their hearts out? Isn’t it possible that no one is even watching them? Don’t worry—the adults are definitely watching.

Ending

The event concluded with the traditional sweet-throwing ceremony. Both children and adults were captivated by the treats being thrown. It was already around 8:30 p.m., and the event had lasted about an hour. With night falling, we’d better hurry back to the station.