Demographic Change in Contemporary Rural Japan and Its Impact on Ritual Practices

Contemporary rural Japan is characterized by depopulation, reflected by the large number of aging residents, abandoned houses and shops (akiya 空家) and an increased number of “hamlets at the margin” (Ono 2005), i.e. hamlets with more than 50 % of residents over 65 years old. As a result, many ritual festivities including matsuri 祭 (festivals) of various kinds face challenges in securing practitioners. This study explores the impact of demographic change on selected ritual practices in Niigata Prefecture, drawing on extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted in 2007–2009 and 2018. With a focus on the changes that traditional Buddhist dances and Shintō shamanic performing arts known as kagura have undergone as a result of demographic decline and lifestyle shifts, this paper examines the measures residents are taking to ensure the continuity of ritual practices.