utagaki; ancient courtship song-and-dance gathering
Archaic term for a communal event in ancient Japan where young men and women sang and danced to court each other. Now only encountered in historical or literary contexts.
The Man'yōshū describes scenes of utagaki gatherings.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical term.
Compound of 歌 (uta, 'song') and 垣 (kaki, 'fence'), possibly referring to the circle or enclosure where participants gathered. The exact origin is uncertain.