In ancient Japan, the custom of utagaki was practiced as an event based on a magical belief of the people, irrespective of age and sex, who gathered on a fixed time and day at a specific place to exchange courtship songs while eating and drinking together in order to form couples who may eventually fall in love.
古代日本における歌垣は、特定の日時と場所に老若男女が集会し、共同飲食しながら歌を掛け合う呪的信仰に立つ行事であり、互いに求愛歌を掛け合いながら、対になり恋愛関係になるとされる。