Japanese Sword Dance at the Noh stage of Yasaka Shrine.

Kenbu (剣武) or “Sword Dance” performed to traditional music accompanied by poetry known as shigin (詩吟) during the Yoi-Yoiyama matsuri in Yasaka shrine. Shigin (詩吟) is a performance of reciting a Japanese or a Chinese poem. Shigin are thought to have originated in China early in the first millennium AD, and may have entered Japan amongst other texts brought back from China in the 5th century. They were most likely sung originally in Chinese, but were later given Japanese readings, which are used in their contemporary recital.