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The white fox-demon Kinmô-kyûbi (gold fur, nine tails) appears to Emperor Toba (1107-1123) in his alternate form, Tamamo-no-mae, a beautiful woman. The Emperor, distressed, has the yin-yang master Abe Yasuchika read the woman's fortune. Abe sees right through her facade. The fox-demon flees to Nasuno-ga-hara, in Shimotsuke-no-kuni (modern Tochigi Prefecture), but is soon caught and vanquished by the imperial court officials Miura-no-suke and Kazusa-no-suke. This performance is also called the Murderous Rock, Kuro-zuka, the Banishment of the Fox-demon, and the Mountain Ascetic. Every performer changes it slightly, and its content has become muddled over time and distance, so each Kagura group exercises a great deal of freedom in its performance.

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NPO Hiroshima kagura Art Laboratory

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