This is a traditional technique for playing the shinobue which is called 'uchiyubi' (lit. tapping finger), and it is often used in the music of rites and festivals such as matsuri-bayashi (Japanese music), kagura (sacred music and dancing performed at shrine), and shishimai (lion dance).
これは「打ち指」と呼ばれる伝統的演奏技法であり、祭囃子・神楽・獅子舞等の祭礼音楽において特に多用される。