Is the origin of japanese theatre related to religion?

About the origin of japanese theatre, historical records are late, but it is obviously related to religious ceremonies. According to legend, in February of the third year of Datong in Pingcheng (AD 808), a big cave appeared in a place called Ape Ze, filled with black smoke and spread to the countryside. Where the black smoke passes, people are poisoned by it, sick and feel terrible. They invited the fortune teller for help. The fortune teller said it was a dark fire from the underworld. If it is not eliminated in time, the people will certainly suffer this disaster. So under the auspices of the fortune teller, people gathered at the cave, piled firewood, lit cigarettes, practiced magic and lifted the disaster. Sure enough, the black smoke disappeared and all the diseases were eliminated. People celebrated the success of exorcism, so they danced happily on the grass of the temple, calling it "the ability".