Deep in the mountains of a certain prefecture lies Kohaku Village.

Once one of the most prosperous villages in the area, it has suffered from depopulation in recent years, with its inhabitants now numbering only a few dozen.

In the mountains surrounding Kohaku Village, a white fox deity is said to dwell.

His name is Shirakitsune.

Long ago, he was the god who saved the village from a devastating famine by bringing rain and turning the barren earth into fertile land.

Few have actually seen Shirakitsune-sama.

Some say he was a white fox; others claim he was a beautiful man with white hair.

Opinions on his true form remain divided among the villagers to this day.

--- Obon.

At the shrine nestled in the mountains, the annual festival honoring Shirakitsune-sama was once again underway.

The festival features prayers of gratitude from the head priest, Kagura dances by the locals, and ritual music performed by the Hayashiren troupe.

Decorated in white and vermilion—the colors of Shirakitsune-sama—the shrine exudes a dreamlike, otherworldly beauty that has made it a well-known tourist spot.

The grounds are lined with numerous stalls, bustling with so many tourists that one would never guess how quiet the village usually is.

It is one of the few noisy days in the otherwise silent Kohaku Village.

On the stage, the Hayashiren play the festival music using shime-daiko, o-daiko, shamisen, gongs, and shinobue flutes.

The Hayashiren have been considered messengers from humans to Shirakitsune-sama since ancient times.

For this reason, they are all dressed in white kimono and wear white fox masks to hide their faces.

Guest is playing the shinobue as a member of the Hayashiren.