Kamaishi Toramai Conservation Federation, which leads to the restoration of the local communities.

Performace of the Tiger Dance

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, the collapse of the linkage of the regional communities and collapse of the local communities threatened the victims in the disaster area. Not only the houses and lives were lost, but the enormous damage suffered and deprived many of their connections in the community. People in the community were dispersed from there… At the same time, It meant the loss of a historical industry in the region and the local culture that supported it.
Mr. Hisakazu Iwama (Chairman of the Kamaishi Tora Mai Preservation Federation) who preserves the "Tiger Dance (Tora Mai)" in Kamaishi city, lost two young fellows by the tsunami. However, he believed that the revival of the traditional "Tiger Dance" is the key to rebuild the region, so he is busy to trying restore the lost portable shrines (Mikoshi) and the tools for "Tiger Dance" while he is working and supporting the recovery as a regional firefighter. With the support from the Nippon Foundation Traditional Performing Arts Reconstruction Fund, it could revive the "Tiger Dance" in Kamaishi City and the surrounding area.
He encouraged young people who lost their families, and he also told to the young surviving generation in Kamaishi City the importance of standing up for the community as survivors. He performs the Tiger Dance for the appreciation in the communities who supported Iwate at the time of the earthquake. Moreover, he continues to perform the dance in the devastated areas all over the country and he also continues to serve warm meals with young fellows in the devastated area. His words that "You must not be a victim forever", always support the ability to move toward independence of young people through the Tiger Dance, and the future in Kamaishi City.

Contact: Kamaishi Tiger Dance Traditional Performing Arts Preservation Association
Address: 2-8-8, Hama-cho, Kamaishi city, Iwate Prefecture