EISA season in OKINAWA!

 Okinawa has just held the Bon festival, a three-day observance from August 22 to 24 this year, which is July 13 to 15 of the lunar calendar.  Our ancestor spirits stay with us these three days and on the final night we send them off.  Young people come out on the streets to perform EISA dance, this is how we entertain our ancestor spirits.  

Youth EISA groups from each community come to dance EISA along the streets while beating drums, which are called “michijune.”  When you drive along the street on the final night, you can see all the different costumes and different dancing style in each community group.  

Recently a few EISA groups have used a large parking lot or open space to show their performance.  On my way back home, I happened to find an EISA group in the central Okinawa.  

Chondara (a strolling entertainer) gave a cue for start by finger whistling.

Another Chondara is wearing an aloha shirt and a helmet for construction site.  Chondaras dance holding a kuba (fan palms) fan to give air to dancers during the break.  

This Chondara is wearing a swimsuit.  Odaiko (large-barrel shaped drum) looks heavy but dancers with Odaiko moves very lightly.  

In the back, dancers with Shimedaiko (laced drum) are also dancing well.  Girls with fans with Hinomaru design…they are dancing by hand so cute!  Speaking of “dancing by hand,” the local newspaper said that Nakijin Village, where men and women dance by hand for EISA performance, has decided to introduce Odaiko for their EISA.  They might want to pass on this traditional performing art of Okinawa over times.  

The Chondara is asking spectators for a big applause.  

This Chondara wearing a muumuu and a colorful afro wig is approaching spectators to entertain.  He looks sexy, doesn’t he?

Well, this powerful dance is leading up to finale.  Six Chondaras are running around in line.  A burst of laughter and a roar of the crowd!

Isn’t it wonderful?  This is how Okinawan people entertain our ancestor spirits. 

By burning uchicabi (paper money for the dead), we wish our ancestors “wellness.”

By decorating sugarcane at butsudan (the Buddhist altar) as a walking stick on their way back, we wish them “Safety and Health.”

By showing a fighting spirit in this powerful EISA dance and entertain everybody, we give them “strength and laughter.” 

This is how we send off our ancestor spirits to their world.  

“How interesting Okinawan ancestor worship is!”

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EISA is the summer’s biggest event in Okinawa.  

From the mid July till the mid September, EISA festivals are held on the main island of Okinawa especially in the central part.  

You still have a chance to enjoy the biggest EISA festival in Okinawa, which will be held from September 11 and 12, 2010. 

Please click on to the following link for further detail!

http://www.okinawastory.jp/en/event/event_100903.html