Monkey showman
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The monkey showman (sarumawashi) trains monkeys to dance to the
accompaniment of a drum. These shows became popular during the Kamakura
period through the introduction of a popular Chinese belief that an
epidemic could be cured by showing a monkey to a horse. Thus, sarumawashi
went from door to door during the New Year holiday entertaining the
residents and showing the monkey to their horses. In return, the household
made a gift of money to the showman. In 1970, the custom is almost extinct.
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