Japanese street parade or dance festival (Matsuri), most likely a modern, large-scale event like a Yosakoi Matsuri よさこい まつり or a parade segment of a major regional festival. Its an energetic, coordinated dancing in the street with highly decorated costumes. It is a more traditional parade with children playing instruments or carrying small floats, it’s a local Autumn Festival (Aki Matsuri).
This is a massive festival that combines the Yosakoi spirit with the traditional folk song “Sōran Bushi” from Hokkaido. The Yosakoi Festival is not a single, one-time event; it is a style of dance festival that takes place throughout the year in all over Japan and even internationally. I have witnessed on the sunday afternoon at Kameari Station, The dancing was mesmerising.
Yosakoi is one of Japan’s most dynamic and modern festival dance styles. While it originated in Kochi Prefecture in 1954, it has spread rapidly, and large-scale Yosakoi events are now held across the country, often in the spring and fall. For instance, the Tokyo Yosakoi Festival is a popular autumn event.
Yosakoi groups are known for their incredibly bright, colorful, and creative costumes, which are a key part of the appeal. Children’s teams often wear matching short jackets and trousers/shorts, frequently incorporating vibrant colors like red and white. The “robes” you mentioned are most likely the short, straight-sleeved coats called Happi or Hanten, often used as festival uniforms.
The dance is high-energy, choreographed, and combines traditional Japanese folk dance movements with modern music and a powerful rhythm. Every dancer must carry Naruko, small wooden clappers that originated as a tool to scare birds from rice fields, adding a unique sound to the performance.
Yosakoi is a competition, but its main spirit is one of participation, energy, and community. Teams perform as they parade down the streets, transforming ordinary city areas into vibrant stages. The enthusiasm of the dancers, including children who master complex routines, is infectious.
Children are a huge part of Yosakoi culture. Many dance teams are community-based and include members of all ages. For children, participating in the Yosakoi provides an opportunity to learn teamwork, experience Japanese culture, and display their energy and skill in front of large crowds, often after months of practice.
no just kidding. Please let me know whether I can applied it with full of joy.