よさこい
yosakoi
Yosakoi is a dynamic and captivating dance style that originates from Japan. It is a unique blend of traditional Japanese dance and modern movement, characterized by its vibrancy, energy, and large group performances.
Yosakoi is typically performed at festivals and events throughout Japan, and its popularity has spread globally. The dance is more than just a performance; it is a celebration of culture, community, and creativity that is accessible to everyone, regardless of age or experience with dance.
The Yosakoi dance was created in an effort to rebuild the city of Kōchi, which was completely destroyed by the Great Kōchi Air Raid in 1945. The dance was shaped by "ozashiki culture" - a form of entertainment involving traditional performing arts and geishas, prevalent from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji period in Tosa, Kōchi Prefecture.
The Yosakoi Naruko Dance, performed at the Yosakoi Festival, was created by masters of the five schools of Japanese dance. The dance incorporated a Tosa folk song called "Yosakoi Bushi" and was based on the "Yosakoi Dance" that was sung and danced in tatami rooms. Composer Eisaku Takemasa created new music for this dance, which formed the basis for the festival.
The Yosakoi Festival has since become a "citizen festival" that anyone can participate in. As a platform for dancers to express themselves, it continues to evolve and spread throughout the country and overseas.
culture
Naruko, small wooden clappers, are a defining feature of Yosakoi. Originally used in Kōchi Prefecture to scare birds away from rice fields.
Traditionally, the Naruko has black and yellow beaters on a wooden body. However, modern Yosakoi groups often create their own Naruko, choosing colors and materials that match their costumes.
The costumes are a feast for the eyes. They range from Happi coats and Yukata in a myriad of colors to outfits inspired by historical, popular, or ethnic fashions.
Each team usually sports similar costumes, adding a visual sense of unity to their performance.
Bold and striking makeup to complement their colorful costumes. The makeup serves to enhance the expressive nature of the dance, with many dancers opting for dramatic eye makeup and vibrant lip colors.
In many cases, the makeup also reflects traditional Japanese aesthetics, further infusing the dance with a sense of cultural heritage.
Yosakoi dance is celebrated in numerous festivals throughout Japan and around the world. The original Yosakoi Festival, is held in Kochi every August. At the festival, teams of dancers and floats come together to perform the Yosakoi Naruko Dance, with over 10,000 dancers participating each year.
Rules for the Kochi Yosakoi competition include the necessary use of naruko clappers in the dance, a requirement for the music to contain at least part of the original "Yosakoi Naruko Dancing" song, and a limit of 150 participants per team. The festival has grown in popularity and spread throughout Japan, with Yosakoi festivals now held in over 200 locations.
In Tokyo, the Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi is a two-day festival that takes place in Harajuku and Yoyogi Park. Other notable festivals include the Michinoku Yosakoi Festival in Sendai, the third-largest festival in Japan, and the Yosakoi Sōran Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
Internationally, Yosakoi is celebrated in countries such as Malaysia, Ghana, and Vietnam, strengthening ties between Japan and these countries. There are also Yosakoi teams at universities outside Japan, such as UC Berkeley, Kansas State University, Minnesota State University Moorhead, and in New York City. In Europe, Yosakoi can be learned and performed in countries such as France, Poland, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Estonia.
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