Fall traditions: Yosakoi

Yosakoi is a traditional Japanese coordinated dance performance with at least one performer, usually two, wielding a giant, ornate flag. Great news is that because it is such a celebrated dance, there are performances all through the year. Moreover, there are yosakoi festivals too. And fall is a great time to see Yosakoi festivals.

Yosakoi festival

Sakado City is famed for its yosakoi festivals. They have one in summer, the main and biggest one, and luckily for me, another in autumn. I say 'luckily for me' because I really can't do festivals in the summer here, because it is too hot and humid. Moreover, I am often back home for the summer when these type of festivals are on. So instead, my family and I go to see yosakoi each year in Autumn. 

The Sakado Autumn Yosakoi was on last weekend. It was only on for one day, but at least it was on - it wasn't on for three years in a row due to the pandemic. However, before the pandemic it was a larger affair. This year it was still big enough. I don't think it was as busy as pre-pandemic, but I am not complaining. The festival is spread over a large area so it was nice to be able to move around freely. Before the pandemic it was hard to get from A to B with all the people! 

This weekend

There are several yosakoi festivals on this weekend, including the 26th annual Yosakoi Sasebo Festival (Nagasaki) which starts tonight, October 18th. It is also on tomorrow and Sunday, so presumably it is a very large festival. I have not personally been to it. There is also a Yosakoi festival on in Yokohama tomorrow and Sunday (October 19th and 20th). On Sunday you can see yosakoi at the Senshu Yosakoi Eejanaika Festival in Osaka. In addition, on Sunday there will be a yosakoi performance at the 'Tokyo Genki Festival'.