Iwami Kagura is a traditional performing art that has been kept alive since ancient times in the Iwami region in the western part of Shimane Prefecture. Dancers wearing magnificent costumes woven with gold and silver threads and expressive masks perform dances inspired by Japanese mythology, accompanied by the distinctively melancholic sound of the flute and the energetic beat of taiko drums. This artform has drawn fans not only in Japan but also all over the world. It was registered as a Japan Heritage in May 2019.