BACK TO LIST
LIST OF CONTENTS
Monkey showman
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.