あまり知られていませんが、実は香川県は「獅子舞王国」。現存している獅子舞の数が800組と日本一の獅子舞王国です。

Shishimai is traditional dance performed by one or more dancers wearing a guardian lion costume. Kagawa pref. has the most Shishimai (about 800 shishimai) in Japan.

Shishimai is said to have been introduced from China and India to Japan. There is a culture of shishimai around the country, but Kagawa, the smallest prefecture in Japan, has the largest number of shishimai teams (shishigumi). It has an outstanding concentration of shishimai performers. We explored the reason why.

In fall, trees change color and the aroma of fragrant olives wafts through the air. The sound of drums and bells are heard here and there in Kagawa. Shishimai is known as a New Year’s event. In Kagawa, shishimai is associated with fall, dedicated to local shrines wishing for peace and bumper crops. Shrine-based shishimai teams formed in each village and are said to have peaked at 1,200 teams. “Currently, we have about 800 teams, but they completely differ among shrines and communities,” said Mitsuru Sogo, chairman of the Sanuki Shishimai Hozonkai (Shishimai Preservation Society). (Experience Takamatsu)

メモ。
・木彫りより張り子の獅子が多い。漆塗りのものや馬の毛がはえているものもある。
・鉦（かね）は他の県ではあまりみられません。
・獅子頭は3種類。毛獅子（猫獅子／他県ではあまりない）、張り子（唐獅子）、木彫り（香西町付近）

直前まで台風で強風・大雨でしたが、撮影のタイミングでは見事に青空。ありがたや！写真はさぬき市造田付近の獅子です。

参考：さぬきの獅子舞がきっかけで香川への移住を決めた西尾さん | 香川移住ポータルサイト かがわ暮らし