The Charm of Yosakoi: Festival Dance Bursting with Color and Excitement

Just What Is Yosakoi?

Naruko: wooden hand clappers. Photo by Pixta

Yosakoi is an energetic Japanese dance style that focuses on synchronized choreography, call and response shouting, and lively music. The easiest way to identify the dance is through the use of a percussion instrument called naruko (wooden hand clappers).

Often painted in red, black, and yellow, a pair of naruko is usually carried in the hands of every performer and used throughout the dance to add a powerful rhythm to the performance.

While it is still popular to use traditional music, these days performers incorporate modern choreography and music to give their performances a lively feel. The best ones fuse these elements to create a performance that is fresh, lively, and full of regional charm.

Brief History of Yosakoi Dance

Yosakoi is a relatively modern dance that can trace its origins back to Kochi Prefecture in 1954. After the second world war, organizers sought to lift the spirits of citizens, pray for good health and ultimately revitalise the shopping streets that saw less foot traffic during the summer.

The original dance incorporates elements of awa-odori and a traditional song called "Yosakoi Naruko Dancing" composed by Takamasa Eisaku.

To this day, the rules of the Kochi Festival require groups to reference the song in their performance and show creative uses of naruko as they dance through the shopping streets.

Another important element in the evolution Yosakoi was the introduction of Soran Bushi, a traditional sea shanty originating from Hokkaido. The choreography and music pioneered by junior high school students in Wakkanai can now be enjoyed in the Yosakoi Soran Matsuri, an annual festival held in Sapporo.

Nowadays Yosakoi is performed across Japan and enjoyed by people of all ages. It is very common to see family teams, college students, and even young professionals who gather on weekends to practice for local and national festivals.

They usually try to incorporate elements of local flair into their costumes, dance routines, and music to draw attention to their group and help them stand out.

Where to Watch Yosakoi in Japan and Abroad

Yosakoi festivals are held throughout Japan from Sapporo to Kochi. The most convenient time to watch them is during the summer months from June to August but some areas hold festivals right the way through to October.

Make sure to catch some of the larger events where teams of dancers from across Japan compete for the title during spectacular multi-day events.

If you're overseas, some of the larger festivals organize live streams for people to follow along with the main stage performances. You can cheer along with your friends and audiences tuning in from around the world.

Some dedicated fans also film many of these events and upload multiple videos to YouTube. It might be a little difficult to find your favorite teams but you might find yourself following them from festival to festival!

Get Involved!

Maybe watching some festivals has inspired you to take up yosakoi for yourself. It's good to know that teams train long and hard for upcoming festivals and take time during their weeknights and weekends to practice.

Coming to Japan on a student exchange program is one of the best ways to experience collegiate yosakoi teams. However, be aware that many teams expect you to understand Japanese well and you should also be committed to the schedule they provide.

There are also ways to experience yosakoi in a more casual setting. Many associations promoting Japanese culture around the world host yosakoi-related events or have connections to clubs run by Japanese residents of each country.

From humble beginnings as a local festival in Kochi, Yosakoi has grown into a nation-wide high energy festival dance that is enjoyed by thousands. We hope you'll have the chance to experience the color, excitement, and spectacle of this amazing dance that's sure to have you up shouting and dancing along!

Main image by Pixta