獅子舞(ししまい)

ししまい
noun
lion dance
cultureleisure
1. lion dance
A traditional Japanese performing art in which dancers wear a lion-head mask and costume. Performed at festivals and New Year celebrations to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. Having your head bitten by the lion is considered especially auspicious.
お正月(しょうがつ)に獅子舞(ししまい)を見(み)た。
I saw a lion dance on New Year's.
祭(まつ)りで獅子舞(ししまい)が披露(ひろう)された。
A lion dance was performed at the festival.
獅子舞(ししまい)に頭(あたま)をかまれると無病(むびょう)息災(そくさい)で過(す)ごせると言(い)われている。
It is said that having your head bitten by a lion dance brings health and safety from illness.

Cultural note

獅子舞(ししまい) is one of Japan's most iconic traditional performing arts. The dancer wears a large, colorful lion head (獅子頭(ししがしら)) and a long cloth body, often accompanied by musical instruments. It appears at New Year celebrations, shrine festivals, and local events throughout Japan.

A widely held belief is that being "bitten" on the head by the 獅子(しし) (lion) brings good fortune and wards off illness, so children are often presented to the lion despite their tears.

Regional variations exist across Japan, from the two-person 獅子舞(ししまい) of the Kanto area to multi-person performances in other regions.

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.2.25 22:34 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13515_shishimai