imperial kagura; sacred Shinto music and dance at the imperial palace
Polite term for kagura, especially the ritual music and dance performed at the imperial palace. Contrasts with 里神楽 (satokagura), which refers to folk kagura performed at local shrines.
See also: 里神楽
At the imperial palace, the mikagura is performed every December.
Mikagura is a traditional dance and music passed down as a Shinto ritual.
The prefix 御 (み) is a polite honorific, and 神楽 (かぐら) refers to Shinto ritual music and dance. The exact origin of かぐら is uncertain, but it is traditionally associated with the mythological dance of the goddess Ame-no-Uzume.