Kagura suzu
Handheld bell-tree used in Shinto kagura dance.
The kagura suzu is a handheld instrument consisting of twelve to fifteen small crotal bells arranged in three tiers on a short staff, used in Shinto kagura dance. The bells are suspended by coiled brass wires from a central handle, with two bells on the top tier, four on the middle, and six on the bottom. Their shape is thought to have been inspired by the fruits of the ogatama tree (Michelia compressa).
Quick Facts
- Number of bells
- twelve to fifteen
- Tiers
- three
- Top tier bells
- two
- Middle tier bells
- four
- Bottom tier bells
- six
- Handle material
- brass wires
- Inspiration
- fruits of the ogatama tree (Michelia compressa)
Facts from the source article.
Related mythology
In Japanese mythology, the goddess Amenouzume performed a spontaneous dance to lure the sun goddess Amaterasu from a cave. She decorated herself with club moss and sakaki leaves, lit bonfires, and danced on an upturned tub, exposing herself and causing the gods to laugh. Her taking a sakaki branch during the dance is said to be the original form of the suzu bells used in Kagura.
Popular culture
Shinto concepts appear implicitly in Japanese popular culture. In the 2020 action role-playing game Genshin Impact, the weapon Kagura's Verity is inspired by the kagura suzu and is the signature weapon of the miko character Yae Miko. In the 2025 survival horror game Silent Hill f, a boss called The Sakuko-Like Entity wields a spiked kagura suzu-like weapon that rings when shaken.
More in Japanese Musical Instruments
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