noun
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.
万葉集には歌垣の様子が記されている。
The Man'yōshū describes scenes of utagaki gatherings.
Compound of 歌 (uta, 'song') and 垣 (kaki, 'fence'), possibly referring to the circle or enclosure where participants gathered. The exact origin is uncertain.