Feel the Rhythm at Yosakoi (Dance Festival in Japan)
Feeling and enjoying every movement of the dancers who participated in the Yosakoi event was a new experience for me. And it was fabulous !
The most impressive thing to me is the beautiful colors of the dancers’ costumes. They are very interesting, with various different designs for each team. Most of them were brightly colored, but they were still made in the traditional way.
Each team could put together music in any style they wanted, from Japanese ballads to jazz, and this was my favorite ! very cool! Even though the music arrangement is free, it must include at least part of “Yosakoi Naruko Dance,” the official festival song.
Yosakoi is just one of the more popular festivals in Japan. Summer is a great time for big festivals in Japan, and Kochi City is no exception.
This dance event is usually held over three days at various sites in Kochi. However, this year it was only held for two days and the locations were not as many as in previous years. Considering that the pandemic’s aftereffects are still being felt, this is very understandable.
After 2 years of absence, this year marked the beginning of this festival being held again, and Kochi City was suddenly very crowded. And the day before the event starts, it begins with a fireworks celebration in the center of the city.
What exactly does the term "Yosakoi" mean? The phrase can be interpreted in different ways, but the general meaning is “enjoy the good times.” During the Japanese holiday of Obon, thousands of dancers in many teams crowd the main streets and highways, enjoying time with the naruko, a Japanese percussion instrument. This event is reported to take place in different places throughout Japan. Yosakoi, on the other hand, is a dance event that originated in the city of Kochi. This prefecture is located on Shikoku island.
There are several dance festivals all around Japan that are quite similar to Yosakoi. The Awa Odori festival is another famous one, and it takes place in Tokushima prefecture.
In one location, you will find many teams with different dancers, music, costumes, and kareomorphic movements. One team normally consists of dozens of people, perhaps even an entire neighborhood! Participants of all ages, from toddlers and teenagers to middle-aged and senior citizens, will be combined into one team... These teams may originate from universities, colleges, or even private businesses such as izakaya—Japanese-style bars that can be found in almost every city in Japan.
Even at one location in Kochi Castle, I found toddlers and disabled people sitting in wheelchairs participating in and enlivening this event. When it comes to planning spectacles like these, Japan is unrivaled... You can imagine if 1 team is filled with dozens of participants, then the number of dance participants can reach hundreds or even thousands of people! In some of the teams I met, the participants were foreigners who live here.
What’s more exciting is that each squad also has a gorgeous decorative truck with a stereo system and a set of massive speakers that blast music at full volume. The singer has a light, airy voice, and the music may be coming from a cassette tape or the band themselves. This is one of my favorite parts of the show.
Yet, still the most epic scene for me was the flag wavers…
What strong hands they have!
With such a big flag, in such a narrow place, but they were able to fly the flag so beautifully..just gently touching us the crowd ,who were on their right and left sides, but miraculously the flag did not fall and touch the floor...
They appeared to be professionals ! And they must have spent a lot of effort and time practicing to be able to do that. Each team, including the dancers and flag bearers, is said to have diligently spent a lot of time choreographing and practicing in order to perform well next year.
I myself feel lucky to be able to witness all these Yosakoi events in different locations and with different vibes. This year , I saw it at various locations. Apart from the main station in Kochi, the event was also held at Obiyamachi (downtown Kochi), along the road to Kochi Castle, and at Kochi Castle itself.
It really feels like this is a festival that should be enjoyed by people from all walks of life.
I can’t wait for it to come around again next summer! :-)
