By MOOK Scenic Spots Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 
The Beitou Hot Spring hotel, Nikko Shisei Kagaya, is celebrating its 6th anniversary, aligning with the 120th anniversary of Tengu-an and the 110th anniversary of the main Kagaya building in Japan—three joyous milestones. To celebrate, they have specially invited the Ishikawa Prefecture Intangible Cultural Asset “O-Jinjou-Jouki Taiko” to perform in Taiwan. The first performance will be a charity event, held on April 29th at 14:00 on the large lawn of Beitou Hot Spring Museum, with a follow-up performance by Beitou Qingjiang Elementary School’s Zhishui Camp Han Drum Team to promote cultural exchange between Taiwan and Japan.

The O-Jinjou-Jouki Taiko with demon masks originated from the Noto Peninsula. In 1576, during Japan’s Warring States period, the fierce warlord Uesugi Kenshin invaded Noto. At that time, unarmed farmers facing the loss of their homeland carved masks from tree bark and used seaweed as wigs. By drumming and dancing wildly at night, they successfully scared off Uesugi’s heavily armored army. Thus, the O-Jinjou-Jouki Taiko has been passed down through the generations and has a history of 400 years.

The O-Jinjou-Jouki Taiko performance unfolds in three rhythmic sections: “Jo (slow),” “Ha (accelerating),” and “Kyu (very fast).” Different demon masks represent various characters, including sorrowful ghosts, half-human half-demon oni, and round-eyed, bulging-forehead Daruma... Dancers wear these masks, crafted from tree bark, seaweed, ramie, and horsehair, and perform corresponding movements that thrill the audience, causing gasps and screams. It is considered a national treasure-level performance in Japan.

Since its opening, Beitou Nikko Shisei Kagaya has inherited the Japanese Kagaya flagship store’s emphasis on tradition and culture. Each year, it invites representative cultural performances from Japan such as geisha, shamisen music, and Takarazuka Theatre to Taiwan. Aside from the performance at Beitou Hot Spring Museum on April 29th, the O-Jinjou-Jouki Taiko will also perform in the evening from 18:00 to 20:00 between April 29th and May 1st on the 6th floor of Nikko Shisei Kagaya at the Golden Nyonya Garden.

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