Taue Odori, or the rice planting dances, had been danced in many areas in Kurokawa County in Miyagi Prefecture in the old days. However, it has been handed down until today only in the Hara area in Tomiya Town. It is designated as a prefecture’s important intangible cultural property.

It is said that when Date Masamune set out for Bunroku War under the order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1592, villagers performed the rice planting dance before him. He was very pleased with it and allowed the dancing troupe to use the pattern of bamboo leaves, which were part of his family crest “Bamboo Leaves and Sparrows,” on the hem of their costumes. Since then the dance has been handed down in this area as a precious folk performing art for over 400 years.

The dance is performed by four “Saotome (women dancers)” and two “Yajuro (men dancers)” with the players of drums and Japanese flute and singers. The dancing style is similar to those of other rice planting dances in the Tohoku region, but that the hats worn by the dancers are simple and have no decorations and that the pattern of bamboo leaves are used for the costume are peculiar to this dance.