The origin of the puppet show, in which three kurokos (a stage assistant dressed in black) manipulate a doll and perform a drama, is in the Awajishima Island.
Uemura Bunrakusai, who created the current Bunranku-za in the Edo period, was born on the Awajishima Island. His puppet shows are still performed by his successors today.
According to records, puppeteers visited farming and fishing villages, carrying dolls from the Awajishima Island offering puppet shows to pray for a rich harvest in the Edo period. Although declining gradually, puppet shows were restored. In particular, students of Mihara High School are learning to perform puppet shows as successors. A museum of puppet shows was built and is popular for tourists who visit, crossing the Akashi-Naruto Bridge.

In the middle of the Edo period, Kabuki spread to the villages deep in the mountains that did not have any entertainment. People constructed a building used both as a hall of shrine and a playhouse in the front of the main shrine for the tutelary deity.
According to records, villagers were enthusiastic about the cities' splendid shows, which they had never seen before and started practicing for themselves.
Originally, when boys became 15 years old, they were allowed to join Kabuki. All the costumes and tools were made by villagers after world war‡U.
A lack of successors was a serious problem. However, Hinoemata Kabuki is now being performed every May and August.

Shiiba-mura, located deep in the Kyushu Mountains, is famous for a legend of Heike's defeated soldiers and a lullaby(about 1180).
In November, a busy time for preparing for the approaching winter, people cooking up a feast and wearing their best clothes, gather in the Toganoo Shrine. After worship in the shrine, Shiiba Kabuki is performed until dawn.
It is said that Shiiba Kagura began in the beginning of the 17th century. Based on myths, Kagura was performed one after another on stage. Shiiba-mura is so remote form metropolitan areas that the precious old-style Kagura has remained intact.