Japan Heritage
Wakasa Town's Kirin Dance-Tottori Prefecture-

The effects of Japan's aging population is felt here in the prefecture with the lowest population, and the association is doing its best to carry on the Kirin Dance tradition with its seven members, two of whom are in their twenties, and the rest in their forties or fifties.

The youngest member, Koki Iino, has said: "There just aren't any young people. There were 28 others in my school class, but only four of them are still here. Only a few people are willing to help with the Kirin Dance, and I do my best to bring them in as members. It's a tradition I grew up with, and it's a part of our local culture."

While confronting the issue of population decline, the association has refused to let the Kirin Dance tradition disappear, working hard to keep it alive since it is a big reason people come to the festivals

Wakasa Shrine has a history stretching back 350 years, and its biggest festival — Miyukisai, designated as an intangible folk-cultural property of the town — is held every other year on May 3rd. The Kirin Dance includes three portable shrines, going down 200 steps on a stone staircase, then traveling around to homes in town. The special characteristics of the Kirin Dance here include the red tabi socks and red straw sandals worn by the dancers, the relatively shorter dance times, and the heads of the Kirin held high while performing.