[Nagai, Yamagata] 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival to be held on May 23
Key facts
- [Nagai, Yamagata] 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival to be held on May 23
- Nagai City, Yamagata, will host the 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival on May 23. The event will feature a gathering of traditional Kuro-Jishi (Black Lion) dances from local shrines, praying for abundant harvests. Limited edition merchandise collaborating with artist Kensuke Takahashi will also be available.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: May 20, 2026
Direct answer
Nagai City, Yamagata, will host the 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival on May 23. The event will feature a gathering of traditional Kuro-Jishi (Black Lion) dances from local shrines, praying for abundant harvests. Limited edition merchandise collaborating with artist Kensuke Takahashi will also be available.
- Citation
- [Nagai, Yamagata] 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival to be held on May 23 (May 20, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- May 20, 2026
Nagai City, Yamagata, will host the 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival on May 23. The event will feature a gathering of traditional Kuro-Jishi (Black Lion) dances from local shrines, praying for abundant harvests. Limited edition merchandise collaborating with artist Kensuke Takahashi will also be available.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 00:43
- 🔍 Collected: May 19, 2026 at 16:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 08:11 (16h 9m after Collected)
## 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival
— A spectacular annual offering where over ten local Black Lions gather —
Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, will hold its representative traditional ritual, the 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival, on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
The Kuro-Jishi dance is a tradition passed down for over a millennium across approximately 40 shrines in Nagai. Characterized by a jet-black lion head and an elongated, supple body reminiscent of a snake, it is also known as the 'Centipede Lion,' and its wild, powerful dance is unrivaled across the country.
Its origins date back to the Heian period. It is said that after the victory in the Zenkunen War (1051–1062), Minamoto no Yoriyoshi had his soldiers perform the dance to celebrate the reconstruction of Somiya Shrine.
The 'black' of the Kuro-Jishi represents 'water' in the Yin-Yang Five Elements theory. It has been passed down as a 'Water Prayer Dance,' expressing awe and gratitude toward the Nogawa River, which has brought both challenges and abundant blessings to the region.
The Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival, which began in 1990, brings together Kuro-Jishi from all over the city. Even in torrential rain, the dance of the Water God does not cease. The sound of the lions’ teeth clashing resonates throughout the town, reaching the height of the prayers and passion of the people living in Nagai, the 'Home of Water.'
### Venue-Exclusive Kuro-Jishi Souvenirs
Items include a 11-type capsule toy set (featuring artwork by Kensuke Takahashi), T-shirts, posters, stickers, scroll hangings, tenugui hand towels, wooden name tags, clear files, and envelopes.
These will be sold in limited quantities at the venue booth, and subsequently at the Roadside Station 'Kawa no Minato Nagai' and the Yamagata Arcadia Tourism Bureau online shop.
### Event Overview
- Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026 (Held rain or shine)
- Venue: Nagai City Main Street / Shiratsutsuji Park Multi-purpose Plaza
— A spectacular annual offering where over ten local Black Lions gather —
Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, will hold its representative traditional ritual, the 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival, on Saturday, May 23, 2026.
The Kuro-Jishi dance is a tradition passed down for over a millennium across approximately 40 shrines in Nagai. Characterized by a jet-black lion head and an elongated, supple body reminiscent of a snake, it is also known as the 'Centipede Lion,' and its wild, powerful dance is unrivaled across the country.
Its origins date back to the Heian period. It is said that after the victory in the Zenkunen War (1051–1062), Minamoto no Yoriyoshi had his soldiers perform the dance to celebrate the reconstruction of Somiya Shrine.
The 'black' of the Kuro-Jishi represents 'water' in the Yin-Yang Five Elements theory. It has been passed down as a 'Water Prayer Dance,' expressing awe and gratitude toward the Nogawa River, which has brought both challenges and abundant blessings to the region.
The Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival, which began in 1990, brings together Kuro-Jishi from all over the city. Even in torrential rain, the dance of the Water God does not cease. The sound of the lions’ teeth clashing resonates throughout the town, reaching the height of the prayers and passion of the people living in Nagai, the 'Home of Water.'
### Venue-Exclusive Kuro-Jishi Souvenirs
Items include a 11-type capsule toy set (featuring artwork by Kensuke Takahashi), T-shirts, posters, stickers, scroll hangings, tenugui hand towels, wooden name tags, clear files, and envelopes.
These will be sold in limited quantities at the venue booth, and subsequently at the Roadside Station 'Kawa no Minato Nagai' and the Yamagata Arcadia Tourism Bureau online shop.
### Event Overview
- Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026 (Held rain or shine)
- Venue: Nagai City Main Street / Shiratsutsuji Park Multi-purpose Plaza
FAQ
What is the date of the 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival in Yamagata?
The 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival will be held on May 23 in Nagai City, Yamagata.
Which artist collaborated on merchandise for the 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival?
Artist Kensuke Takahashi collaborated on limited edition merchandise for the 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival.
How many times has the Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival been held as of 2024?
As of 2024, the Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival has been held 36 times in Nagai City, Yamagata.
Where is the 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival taking place on May 23?
The 36th Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival is taking place in Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
What traditional performance is featured at the Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival on May 23?
The Nagai Kuro-Jishi Festival features traditional Kuro-Jishi (Black Lion) dances from local shrines.