Otome-mai

   Dance by virgins, young maidens (otome). The gosechi no mai (five-movement dance) is the oldest form, classified as a type of bugaku. According to legend this dance was performed for the Emperor Temmu by an 'angel' who descended while he was playing the koto and danced, raising her sleeves five times. Other dances performed by otome include those which form part of the Daijo-e (harvest rite). A dance called Urayasu no mai was composed for the celebrations of the '2600th anniversary' of the foundation of the Imperial throne in 1940 and is widely performed by eight otome holding fans or bells. Otome-mai also includes a dance called chihaya hibakama performed by red-skirted shrine priestesses (miko).