Yosakoi Dance

Click-clack!

It is easy to tell when people are dancing in the Yosakoi festival dance style because of that clear, recognizable sound made by wooden clappers called Naruko.

In just sixty-seven years, Yosakoi has grown into a global performance phenomenon, characterized by its joy, improvised dance, and singing.

Come join us as we take you to another one-of-a-kind feature of Japanese culture—the Yosakoi dance!

Yosakoi, What Is It?

When the music starts, there is a roar that rips through the air, and what appears to be a kaleidoscopic ninja squadron rushes into battle with their long sleeves and headbands trailing before them. Their movements are exaggerated, as are their costumes. This is a Yosakoi festival, one of many held in Japan each summer.

Contemporary and traditional Japanese music and dance are combined in the Japanese dance style known as Yosakoi. Yosakoi performances can be seen at celebrations and festivals all around the world, including Japan! Keep an eye out for the dance the next time you’re at a Japanese festival or consider watching a Yosakoi video on YouTube; you won’t regret it. The dance is notable for its entertaining and colorful performances.

How It Began

The traditional Japanese dance is thought to be a version of the Tokushima, Japan, summer dance known as Awa Odori. In Kochi City, Shikoku, the very first Yosakoi festival was conducted in 1954. Yosakoi can now be seen at a variety of festivals across Japan. The “Kochi Yosakoi Festival” and the “Yosakoi Soran Festival” in Sapporo, which are celebrated annually in June and August, respectively, are two of the best recommendations.

Different Yosakoi Costumes

Yosakoi is typically performed in the summer, thus traditional festival clothing like yukata and happi coats are popular choices for costumes. It is also possible to design costumes with hidden layers that are unveiled as the performance progresses. The huge number of dancers also enables fascinating formations, since the variety of colored clothes creates fascinating patterns and shapes.

The Distinctive Yosakoi Instruments

Yosakoi includes fascinating instruments in addition to interesting costumes. One of these is the “naruko,” a wooden clapper instrument traditionally used by Yosakoi dancers to frighten birds away from rice fields. In addition to naruko, other instruments such as drums, flags, fans, umbrellas, batons, floats, and more can be utilized to provide sound, color, and movement to performances.

Can Anyone Perform Yosakoi?

Definitely! Most Yosakoi teams do not really require any special equipment or prior experience in order to participate. Yosakoi can be performed without the necessity for Japanese language proficiency. Yosakoi dancers and teams from other countries can be found all over the world. Yosakoi is actually fairly well-liked in certain nations outside of Japan, including Vietnam and Taiwan.

What Types of Performances Are There?

At festivals and gatherings throughout the summer, Yosakoi is frequently performed. Although there are numerous Yosakoi styles, there are often just two main styles: energetic, which occasionally does not include Narukos, and graceful, which generally requires Narukos. Both are distinctive and fascinating in their own right!

What Is the Most Delightful Aspect of Yosakoi?

Since the best Yosakoi performances need a high degree of synchronization, Yosakoi promotes togetherness and camaraderie among its performers. The dancers and the audience always have a great time performing Yosakoi dances because of their excitement and energy.

Yosakoi’s Guiding Principles

Traditional Japanese dances, like Awa Odori, for instance, typically have specific guidelines for the steps and movements the dancer must perform. However, Yosakoi choreographies are entirely open-ended as long as they adhere to the following three guidelines:

  • Dancers must move forward as they perform.
  • They had to use their Naruko clappers.
  • They must incorporate a section of the song “Yosakoi Naruko Odori.”

Some teams design their choreographies so that the Naruko’s click-clack complements the music. This gives each dance team the flexibility to show their individuality and flair, in addition to the freedom with the music. 

Although dance teams are allowed to paint their Naruko any color they desire to match their costumes, they are typically painted in vermillion, yellow, and black. The Naruko is not as simple to use as it first appears, and good wrist movements are needed to make it suit the rhythm.

Why Is Yosakoi Popular Throughout the World?

How did Yosakoi evolve from a post-war morale booster in the remote Kochi Prefecture in Shikoku to encompassing 242 festivals across 45 of Japan’s 47 prefectures as well as teams playing in 33 foreign countries?

1. Yosakoi is inclusive for all

Here are a few important notes: Yosakoi is, first and foremost, inclusive and universal. A Yosakoi team can be created by anyone. This encompasses young people, the elderly, non-Japanese, people with disabilities, and many generations. Yosakoi teams can be found all over the world, including in Vietnam, Ghana, France, Sweden, Hungary, and Canada.

2. Subject to artistic interpretation

Second, there are many innovative ways to interpret the music and dance arrangements. Global and pop music, movie themes, traditional folk songs, and original songs are combined with enthusiastic dancing that is only constrained by the performer’s creativity.

3. Distinctive Costumes

The third important aspect is the clothing, which can range from conventional attire to completely unique outfits right out of an anime. In addition to being intricate and colorful, they frequently have quick-change features that completely alter their appearance. Many dancers sew their own costumes, while others have them designed exclusively for them.

Let the Adventure Begin!

Japanese summers are not complete without festivals. It may be tempting to stick with tried-and-true events like fireworks displays or gatherings at temples and shrines.

However, Yosakoi celebrations provide a rare chance to witness the wonder of people moving in unison with one another.

There are hundreds of Yosakoi celebrations held all throughout Japan, especially in the summer, so tourists can check online for forthcoming performances in the locales they intend to visit. Starting in Kochi Prefecture, the origin of the dance makes sense. 

Enjoy the vibrant environment, enthusiasm, and colorful aspects of Japanese culture that will make your next summer unforgettable!

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