Daidengaku Ikebukuro Emaki

A ritualistic form of folk dancing and music that flourished from the Heian to the early Muromachi period (around 1000-1400 CE), dengaku comes back to life – and gets a contemporary touch – at this one-day celebration in Ikebukuro. Directed by kyogen (traditional comic theatre) actor Manzo Nomura, the Daidengaku will incorporate themes from a solemn, aristocratic form of ritual dancing that draws on Heian-era records all the way to acrobatics and cosplay. Part of the ongoing Tokyo Metropolitan Festival's programme, the show will start at Toshima Center Square (in front of the Toshima ward office) and and move slowly towards Minami-Ikebukuro Park.