FUNDAMENTALS OF JAPANESE DANCE：THE BOOK｜ Excerpt from FUNDAMENTAL MOVEMENT

Our phrase “waving the hands in the air and jumping about unthinkingly,” is an exppression of highest delight. From the earliest days, when people prayed, they would stamp rhythmically (Ashibyōshi). Their purpose was the movement of stamping itself and not the sound they make. The most ancient records of stamping in dance are found in old religious myths. In the story of the Heavenly Stone Door, the great Sun Goddess, Amaterasu is hidden in a cave and the world has been cast into darkness. To bring her out, Ame no Uzume, carrying a sakaki branch, stamps a dance on an overturned bucket, and this was the first Ashibyōshi.
(page 137)

Six Beat

Right foot out toward down right and both hands Uchiage.
Turn left and face upstage. Strike both hands together.
While opening hands, raise right foot.
From right foot Tokotonbyōshi
Turn to right, raise right hand palm up in front. Raise left foot, strike left thigh with left hand.
Left foot stamp
Extend left hand in front palm down, raise right foot, hit right thigh with right hand.
Right foot stamp. (This is also performed to the other side