What is "kowakamai"

Kōwakamai [kowakamai, kouwakamai, 幸若舞, こうわかまい] is a type of kusemai, or recitative dance, which was popular during Japan’s Muromachi Period (1333-1573 C.E.). Although kōwakamai has dance and musical components, scholars consider its textual component as an independent literary genre.

Kōwakamai is thought to date back 700 years (14th century), sharing its origins in traditional court dance and music with nō and kabuki. Kōwakamai is performed every year on January 20 at Tenman-jinja, a shintō shrine in Ōe.