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Heroic Dancing of Young People to the Sound of Drums  Eisa is a traditional performing art found throughout the Okinawa Archipelago. It is featured in the memorial service for ancestors, which is one of the summer observances. Although it can be seen throughout the islands, it flourishes particularly in Okinawa City and in the central part of the main island. To the lively accompaniment of tunes played on the sanshin, the prototype of the shamisen, a Japanese traditional three-string instrument, young men and women beat small drums, paranku, which are about the size of tambourines, and mid-sized drums that a person can just about get their arms around. Dancing through the streets and alleys of the town with movements characteristic of Okinawan dance, the performers shout out chants in which the word "Eisa" is repeated. Visiting each house in the vicinity in turn, they offer comfort to the spirits of the ancestors and pray for the health and prosperity of the family. Every year, groups of young people from all over Okinawa come to show off colorful local dancing in the All-Okinawa Eisa Festival held in Okinawa City in late August. The spectacle of vivid costumes in bright contrasting hues so typical of the southern islands is a treat for the eyes. Meanwhile, the main attraction is the powerful performances of well-synchronized dancing, drumming, and chanting by the larger groups, which may number over 100 dancers. Recent trends have shifted towards incorporating modern rhythms, including rock in traditional eisa. At the same time, new dance moves have been created by some groups of dancers who experiment with the standard movements of karate to express a new feeling. Eisa is becoming well known all over Japan as a heroic and traditional dance form that conveys the spirit of Okinawa. Photo: The Eisa Festival (Okinawa Convention and Visitors Bureau). Unauthorized reproduction of the photos in this page is prohibited. Related Links: | |
