黒森神楽

黒森神楽は、宮古市山口に鎮座する黒森神社を本拠地としている。正月になると、黒森神社の神霊を移した「権現様」（獅子頭）を携えて、陸中沿岸の集落を廻り、家々の庭先で権現舞を舞って悪魔祓いや火伏せの祈祷を行う。夜は宿となった民家の座敷に神楽幕を張り、夜神楽を演じて五穀豊穣・大漁成就や天下泰平などの祈祷の舞によって人々を楽しませ祝福をもたらしている｡
この巡行は旧盛岡藩の沿岸部を、山口から久慈市まで北上する「北廻り」と釜石市まで南下する「南廻り」に隔年で廻村し、近世初期からその範囲は変わっていない。
こうした広範囲で長期にわたる巡行を行う神楽は、全国的にも類例がなく、貴重な習俗が現在も継続されていることから、平成18年３月に国の重要無形民俗文化財に指定された。

Kuromori Kagura is based at Kuromori Shrine, located in Yamaguchi of Miyako City. With the Gongen-sama (shishi-lion head) transferred with the spirit of the Kuromori Shrine on New Year’s Day, the Kuromori Kagura goes around the villages along the coast, dancing the gongen-mai in the yard of the houses to dispel demons and pray for fire safety. Yokagura (night kagura) is performed at night in a house that turns its tatami room into an inn, dancing in prayer for an abundant harvest and peace reigning in the lands. This kagura dance brings joy and blessing to the people.
The process tours around the coastal area of the former Morioka domain, switching every other year going north from Yamaguchi to Kuji City, and going south to Kamaishi City, and this has not changed since the early modern period.
As a kagura, such long term tours covering a wide range of land is rare nationwide, and with these valuable customs still being passed down, the Kuromori Kagura was designated as a nationally important intangible folk cultural property in March 2006.

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