Hassaku Taiko Odori

A dance offered to the gods at Kumano Shrine every year on August 1−2 of the lunar calendar
In this stirring traditional event, a singer called the kanetataki is surrounded by ten young male dancers with tall rows of pennants on their backs, who dance to a call as they beat taiko drums.
As the lively dance comes to a close, masked gods called mendon appear, running around like mad with divine branches to drive out evil spirits.
* Mendon are registered as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage as part of “Raiho-shin, ritual visits of deities in masks and costumes”