Gozagae-sai and Sada Shin Noh at Sada Shrine

About

On September 24 and 25 every year, Sada Shrine holds its Gozagae-sai, at which the sacred dances of Sada Shin Noh are performed. On the night of September 24 comes the Gozagae rite, with the Shichiza dances offered as part of the ritual itself. On September 25, after the festival rites, the auspicious Shikisanba and the masked Shin Noh, which acts out myths, are performed as offerings. Shin Noh uses a Noh-style ensemble of flute and three kinds of drum with a chorus; it is said to have been created in the early 1600s by a priest of the shrine who studied Noh movement in Kyoto, and is called the source of Izumo kagura. The shrine was once revered as one of the three great shrines of Izumo Province. The dances were designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 1976 and inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2011.

Sources

• OfficialMatsue Tourism Association www.kankou-matsue.jp
• OfficialShimane Tourism Association www.kankou-shimane.com

Last checked: Oct 11, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.

Other events this month

• Kakinomoto Shrine Hassaku Festival (Yabusame Horseback Archery)
• Dangyo Shrine Hassaku Festival (Bull Sumo)