Tsukumai:Ryugasaki Acrobatic Performance

February 23, 2015

In Ryugasaki Tsukumai or acrobatic performance, a male performer called Maiotoko climbs up a 14-meter pole with festival music of bamboo flutes and drums. On top of the pole, there is a cutout cushion made of 120 layered Sandawara (round straw lids for rice bales) and covered with a white cloth. The performer releases arrows from a bow toward all four points of compass on the cushion. After that, he does a handstand and lies on his back. Then he slides down a rope stretching from the top of the pole toward the ground with his arms spread and performs giant swings. After a series of acrobatics, he climbs up the rope to go back to the pole. All performance ends when he slides down the pole to the ground.

Translation: Marie Mine, reviewed by Maiko Hayashi

Read the full article:
Tsukumai:Ryugasaki Acrobatic Performance