【Designated by the City：Intangible Folk 】Kuicha of Nikadori

The Kuicha of Nikadori has been passed down over time, danced by the people in their prayers for good harvests, wishes for rain, and for entertainment among the men and women.
According to lore, in the past, the young men and women of the village would gather every night after work at Upuyumata of Nmyagani, and dance through the night. In the Kuicha, we can see the way people wished for good harvests and rain, fell in love, and satirized the society in those times. The number of dancers is not fixed in the Kuicha of Nikadori. Men and women, young and old, who gather, freely join in, calling out “Sassa, sassa,” as they form a circle, and as the circle becomes complete, the song begins and the dancing also begins. The singers are not fixed either, and usually, those who know the lyrics and have good voices accompany the dancing with song.

There are unique characteristics in the Kuicha, in each of the regions. Among them the Kuicha of Nikadori is vibrant and lively, displaying a vivid reminder of its people living with the harsh challenges of nature and society.
This Kuicha is an important, intangible folk cultural asset to understand the trends in the folk performing arts of Nikadori, as well as the traditions and customs of the people.