The Tsurusaki Dance comprises two styles: the graceful and elegant “Sarumarudayu” and the lively “Saemon.” Currently, Sarumarudayu is the more commonly performed dance. Historically, however, Saemon is the older of the two and has been known in Tsurusaki since ancient times as “Mitsubyoshi.”

Saemon
The origins of the Saemon dance date back to 1560 (Eiroku 3). During this time, Yoshishige Otomo (later known as Sorin Otomo), the lord of Bungo Province, was neglecting his duties due to indulging in entertainment.

To admonish him, his chief retainer, Akitsura Bekki (later known as Dosetsu Tachibana), devised a plan. He invited dancers from Kyoto to perform day and night. Yoshishige, upon hearing that the stern Akitsura was fond of dancing, became suspicious and went to watch.

Akitsura then performed a dance called “Mitsubyoshi,” and, seeing Yoshishige in a good mood, tearfully admonished him. Yoshishige accepted his loyal advice, and it is said that this was the beginning of Mitsubyoshi, later known as Saemon.

Sarumarudayu
Today, when people refer to Tsurusaki Dance, they often mean Sarumarudayu, which is said to have originated from the Ise Dance. During the Edo period, between 1704 and 1711 (the Hoei era), Tsurusaki was a remote territory of the Hosokawa clan of Higo Kumamoto, with a landholding of 540,000 koku.

As the departure and arrival point for the daimyo’s journeys to and from Edo, Tsurusaki was home to over a hundred clan ships, including “Naminashimaru.” It flourished as a port town engaging in trade with Kyoto and Osaka.The townspeople had a cheerful disposition, and performing arts thrived.

At the time, the “Okage Mairi” pilgrimage to Ise was immensely popular across Japan, and many from Tsurusaki also traveled to Ise. These pilgrims brought back the Ise Dance, which, combined with the local culture, became widely performed and eventually settled in the area as Sarumarudayu.