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Sometimes men of noble birth took part in this pastime, but it was usually confined to the lower middle classes. The great festival of bon-odori, which will be spoken of by and by, is said to be an outgrowth of the uta-gaki. The most characteristic feature of the time was a belief in the supernatural power of reptiles and animals. This credulity was not limited to the uneducated masses.
Further reference to the subject will be made hereafter. Here it will suffice to note that the composing of such verselets was a feature of every age in Japan. A favourite pastime during the early historic period was known as uta-gaki or uta-kai.
In cities, in the country, in fields, and on hills, youths and maidens assembled in springtime or in autumn and enjoyed themselves by singing and dancing. There were places specially associated in the public mind with uta-gaki Tsukuba Mountain in Hitachi, Kijima-yama in Hizen, and Utagaki-yama in Settsu.
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