TSUWANO ODORI 津和野踊り Aug 15th, 2025
渓谷沿いの小さな盆地ある津和野は独特の静けさが漂う街並みで、江戸時代そのままの路地や用水などとともに、数々の芸能が伝えられています。「津和野踊り」という古風で優雅な盆踊りが伝承されています。踊り子の黒頭巾・白装束が、大変印象的。古雅な囃子に乗せて、ほの暗い街並みでゆったりと踊る盆踊りには、観光化されない昔ながらの盆踊りの雰囲気をよく残しています。
時は戦国時代。織田信長が東海から近畿を掌握し、さらに勢力を拡大して天下人に昇りつめようとしていた、そんな時です。
中国地方は毛利元就が磐石の体制で抑えていましたが、信長は毛利に滅ぼされた尼子氏再興に兵を挙げた山中幸盛（鹿之助）を援助し、一方で家臣の羽柴秀吉を中国地方攻略に派遣していました。
当時の亀井家当主、新十郎茲矩（これのり）は、幸盛とともに戦っていました。
山中幸盛は志半ばに倒れましたが、茲矩は秀吉の元で戦い続け、因幡国鹿野城（鳥取市鹿野町）となっていました。
亀井玆矩（これのり）は羽柴秀吉に、鹿野城そばにある金剛（こんこの）城を攻略するよう命じられました。
金剛城は難攻不落で、正攻法では味方の兵を損するばかりでした。また鳥取城と連携して、鳥取攻略を目指す羽柴軍を苦しめていました。
あるとき玆矩は金剛城の城主・兵頭源六は音楽や踊りが好きだと知り、ひとつの戦略を思いつきます。
玆矩は郷土芸能に新しい舞踊(つわの踊りの原型)を取り入れ、笛や太鼓を加えて、城下の村々に盛んに踊られました。人々は喜び、その踊りはたちまちのうちに大流行したのです。
そして天正九年（1581）七月十四日、盂蘭盆会（旧盆）の日。
城下の人々は普段より美しく装いをこらした姿で舞いを披露しました。
その一団の中に、玆矩は鎧を来た一隊を変装させて加えていました。
（これが津和野踊りの衣装の源。黒ずきんは、甲冑を隠すためのものだったのです。）
一団は踊りながら、しだいに金剛城下に溢れだしました。
敵方、金剛城中の男女は、この一団を見ようと歓声をあげて集い、ついには城主の兵頭や家臣たちも見物に城を出ました。
踊りも終わりに近づく頃、にわかに城に火が起りました。
兵頭が気づき城を仰いだときには、すでに亀井勢の家紋の入った旗がひるがえり、踊り子の装いはとられて戦士となり、城はすっかり奪われていました。
玆矩の企てた奇策は、見事成功をおさめたのです。
その後、戦勝の記念としてお盆に踊られたこの踊りは、亀井氏が津和野藩に移封されたのちも伝えられ、そのまま津和野踊りとして今日も踊られています。
VOICE : VOICEVOX 中国うさぎ
BGM : DOVA-SYNDROME 蒲鉾さちこ
Located in a small basin along a valley, Tsuwano has a uniquely tranquil townscape. Its alleyways and irrigation channels remain unchanged from the Edo period, and numerous performing arts are also preserved. The town is home to the elegant, old-fashioned “Tsuwano Odori” Bon Odori dance, handed down through the ages. The dancers’ black hoods and white robes are particularly striking. Accompanied by elegant music, the Bon Odori dance, performed leisurely in the dimly lit streets, retains the atmosphere of a timeless Bon Odori dance unspoiled by tourism.
The story takes place during the Sengoku period, when Oda Nobunaga had seized control of the Tokai and Kinki regions and was seeking to further expand his power and rise to become the most powerful man in Japan.
Mōri Motonari held a firm grip on the Chugoku region, but Nobunaga supported Yamanaka Yukimori (Kanosuke), who had raised an army to restore the Amago clan, which had been destroyed by the Mori, while also dispatching his vassal, Hashiba Hideyoshi, to conquer the Chugoku region.
Shinjuro Korenori, the head of the Kamei family at the time, fought alongside Yukimori.
Though Yamanaka Yukimori died before he could achieve his goal, Korenori continued fighting under Hideyoshi and ended up in Shikano Castle in Inaba Province (Shikano Town, Tottori City).
Kamei Korenori was ordered by Hashiba Hideyoshi to capture Kongo Castle, located near Shikano Castle.
Kongo Castle was impregnable, and a direct attack would only result in the loss of allied soldiers. He also cooperated with Tottori Castle, harassing the Hashiba forces aiming to capture Tottori.
One day, Korenori learned that Hyodo Genroku, the lord of Kongo Castle, loved music and dance, and came up with a strategy.
Korenori incorporated a new dance (the prototype of Tsuwa no Odori) into local performing arts, adding flutes and drums, and the dance became a popular hit in the villages around the castle. The people were delighted, and the dance quickly became a huge hit.
Then, on July 14, 1581, the 9th year of Tensho , the day of Ullambana (Obon),
the people of the castle town dressed more beautifully than usual and performed a dance.
Among the group, Tsunekaku had added a group of people dressed in armor, disguised as such.
(This is the origin of the costumes of Tsuwano Odori. The black hoods were used to hide the armor.)
As the group danced, they gradually spilled out into the town of Kongo Castle.
Men and women from the enemy side, all within Kongo Castle, gathered together, cheering to see the group, and eventually even the castle lord’s soldiers and vassals left the castle to watch.
As the dance drew to an end, fire suddenly broke out in the castle.
By the time Hyodo realized what was happening and looked up towards the castle, flags bearing the Kamei family crest were already fluttering, the dancers had stripped off their dancer attire and transformed into warriors, and the castle had been completely taken.
Tsunenori’s ingenious plan was a brilliant success.
This dance was then performed during Obon to commemorate the victory, and it was passed down even after the Kamei clan was transferred to the Tsuwano Domain, and is still performed today as the Tsuwano Dance.
VOICE : VOICEVOX 中国うさぎ
BGM : DOVA-SYNDROME by SACHIKO KAMABOKO