Overview
Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri is authentic and traditional style dance parade with the old-style music called “Ondo”. Dancers hold a Hanagasa, a hat decorated with artificial flowers, and wear the same costume, such as Kimono, Yukata, and modern street fashion, per group.
Although its history is relatively short compared with other major traditional Japanese style festivals, you can see Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri’s influence in many other Japanese Summer festivals in terms of styles of dance and music which makes Japanese people in 40 and above feel some sort of nostalgia for early Showa era, particularly 50’s and 60’s.
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History
It is said that Ondo was sung by construction workers at Ozaizawa in the middle Taisho era (1912 to 1926), and became a folk song in the early Showa period (1926–1989) as “Hanagasa Ondo” (also known as “Hanasaka Odori Uta”).
Also, it was choreographed for the parade in Zao Summer Festival started in 1963 (Showa 38).
Religious Background
N/A
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Date
August 5th-7th
Dates and functions are subject to change without notice. Be sure to check the latest information in advance.
Location
Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture