Niagari Odori Fukuyama Summer Festival

 

I arrived in Fukuyama for a two night stay on August 13th, not knowing that I would be able to see the Fukuyama Summer Festival.

It runs from August 13th to 15th and coincides with Obon, the Japanese time for honoring the ancestors.

Bon Odori is the community dance performed at this time and variations have been created in different parts of the country.

In Fukuyama the dance is called Niagari Odori and is an Intangible Folk Property of Hiroshima Prefecture.

Festivities start at Central Park and in late afternoon demonstrations of thedance and its steps are held.

Mascots gather.....

It is said that Niagari Odori has its own unique rhythm, but being uncultured I was unable to see or hear the difference between it and many other odori.

The dancers carry and use bamboo "clackers"....

The musical accompaniment is sanshin and flute....

As the sun goes down the festival kicks off with a performance by a Taiko Troupe...

Following the taiko the procession begins, starting at the park and heading out along the shopping streets...

The different groups represent a variety of organizations and NPO's and all wear different outfits...

Some are wearing yukata, and some happi coats....

The previous post in the series was on the Fukuyama Central Library.

Rice Planting!.... the musical!

The third post on the Tauebayashi Matsuri we went to on Sunday. This time a look at the musicians who play the worksong during the rice planting.

This character has no name, though he is wearing a Hyottoko mask. He keeps time for the music with a pair of small "changara", which is the local name for small hand cymbals.

There is a single flute player in the ensemble, and a group of 3 kodaiko players. The kodaiko is carried vertically and only the top is hit.

There is one player of the dora, a kind of bell/gong.

Most of the musicians play the okedo taiko, and it provides the meat of the sound. It is carried horizontally and both heads are struck.

For the first half of the planting the music was performed by the childrens ensemble, playing a smaller okedo taiko.

A short video of the lead singer.

More photos and videos of Tauebayashi