Ennen were dance programs organized at Buddhist temples, and prominent chiefly in the late medieval period. Drawing upon and often accompanied by bugaku dances, ennen incorporated a variety of dances and other performances on mythological themes. Often, a chigo (sacred boy) was heavily involved in these performances, which included shirabyƓshi dances performed by the chigo, a variety of mai, and furyƻ: exchanges of dialogue & reenactments of mythological scenes.

References

  • Andrew Tsubaki, "The Performing Arts of Sixteenth-Century Japan: A Prelude to Kabuki," Educational Theatre Journal 29:3 (1977), 306.