Japan: Kuromori Kabuki in Sakata, Yamagata prefecture

SAKATA, YAMAGATA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 17: Kuromori elementary students meeting their families after Kuromori Kabuki Performance at Kuromori, Sakata The Agriculturally themed kabuki has been performed for over 280 years continuously from the mid-Edo era, as The Agriculturally themed kabuki has been performed for over 280 years continuously from the mid-Edo era, as a dedication to the Kuromori Hie Shrine in Sakata city. Kuromori kabuki is farmer youths Kabuki performance performed for the gods within the shrine during the extreme cold of February to coincide with the Kuromori kabuki is farmerユs Kabuki performance performed for the gods within the shrine during the extreme cold of February to coincide with the Lunar New Year, and as such it is also referred to as メThe dance in snowモ or メThe cold danceモ. It is considered to be one of the nation's best with its grand scale and variety of performances, and has been designated as one of Yamagata's prefectural intangible folklore cultural assets. (Photo by Richard Atrero de Guzman/Aflo)