Lion Dance Across the Sea - Ehime Prefecture - circa 1973

Lion Dance Across the Sea - Ehime Prefecture - circa 1973

Around 1973, in a coastal fishing village in Ehime Prefecture, a lion dance, an essential part of local rituals, was performed on a boat and crossed the sea to a neighboring village. The sight of the lions dancing on the sea, swaying with the waves, was solemn and at the same time somewhat comical, leaving a strong impression on those who saw them. This was not merely a ritual, but a sacred act that symbolized the living and spiritual ties between people and the sea.

This custom is a typical example of Japanese coastal culture, which regards the sea as the pathway or domain of the gods. Similar examples can be found, for example, in Hirado in Nagasaki and Ondo in Hiroshima, where "o-bune rituals," in which the gods are carried on a boat and paraded around, can be seen in many places. This lion dance procession is also a form of religious belief in welcoming or sending off the gods.

However, during the period of rapid economic growth in the 1970s, the modernization of the fishing industry and depopulation made it difficult to maintain traditional rituals. As young people migrated to the cities and fewer people participated in village events, this custom naturally died out. Although it is a lost custom, the delicate relationship between people and nature is engraved in it, and it raises questions for us today.

Ehime Prefecture has a history of the Iyo Suigun (navy), and is a place where the sea and people's lives have been closely connected. Preserving the memory of this culture as a record will be of great significance in deepening our understanding of the region's climate.