Shiraoi Town, Hokkaido, Japan! Aomori "Kuroishi Yosare" - A beautiful dance performance in the historical townscape of Aomori.
- Aomori
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What is Kuroishi Yosare, a summer tradition in Kuroishi?
The Nagashi Odori dance, in which thousands of people dance through the streets of the city, is said to be one of Japan's three great Nagashi Odori dances!
Let us introduce you to the Kuroishi Yosare, which is filled with such enthusiasm.
Origin...
It looks so fun that it makes me want to see what it was like back then.
What is the origin of the name?
There are various theories about the origin of the word, but it is said to have come from the words, "Let go of your work and enjoy yourself" when there is a good harvest, and "Hurry up and leave this world" when the harvest is bad and people are suffering.
The etymology also suggests that people enjoy dancing the Kuroishi Yosare.
It is characterized by three dances! What kind of dance is "Kuroishi Yosare"?
Mawari Odori is danced in a circle in the middle of Nagashi Odori. Spectators are welcome to jump in and dance with the locals.
A perfect match of male-female interplay and Tsugaru-ben (Tsugaru dialect)! Let's learn about the songs!
The characteristic of Kuroishi yosare songs is that many love dialogues between a man and a woman and Tsugaru dialect are often used. Some of the songs were originally sung to weed out the weeds, and some of them are sad songs in memory of the prosperous days of the Sentoku family, the lords of Asaseishi Castle, which flourished in Kuroishi for about 350 years.
You don't need to know the meaning of the songs to enjoy them, but if you know the lyrics and the history of the dances, you may slip back in time to a distant past and relive the feelings of the people of that time. Detailed lyrics can be found on the Kuroishi City Tourist Association website, which will be introduced later.
Yukata style of Kuroishi Yosare
Date, time, and location
Main venue: Nakamachi Ichibancho Dentist Site
・18:30～18:40 Night Kagura
・18:40～19:00 Kuroishi Yosare Opening Ceremony (~departure declaration)
・20:30～21:00 Janori Hadori
Friday, August 16, 2024
・18:40～18:50 Night Kagura
・18:50～19:00 Departure Ceremony
・20:30～21:00 Odori Hari Dari
A stage is set up here for the opening ceremony, and it is also the starting point for Nagashi Odori.
The unfamiliar word "Odori Hadari" is in Tsugaru dialect. The word "Hadararu" means "to beg" or "to want. Odori Hadari" means "to beg for dancing" or "to want to dance more! After the Nagashi Odori is over, spectators join in the dance.
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Location
Nakamachi Ichibancho Dental Site (6-2 Nakamachi, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture)
Access
Public transportation: Approx. 12 min. walk from Kuroishi Station on the Konan Railway
By car: 8 minutes from the Kuroishi IC on the Tohoku Expressway to the city center
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.
■ Station Square
・11:00〜17:30 Kuroishi Yosare Rock Fest 2024
Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18, 2024
・19:00〜21:00 Kuroishi Yosare Kaitori Odori
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Location
Station Square (2-190 Midori-cho, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture)
Access
Public transportation: Approx. 2 min. walk from Kuroishi Station on the Konan Railway
By car: Approx. 10 min. from Tohoku Expressway Kuroishi IC to the city center
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.
■Kuroishi Community Center Multipurpose Hall
・13:30～17:30 Kuroishi Yosare Tsugaru Minyo Kumiai Dance Competition
Friday, August 16, 2023
・13:00～16:00 Sing and Dance♪ Yosare for Everyone
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Location
Kuroishi Community Center Multipurpose Hall ( 24-1, Kuroishi City Town, Aomori Prefecture)
Access
Public transportation: 10 min. walk from Kuroishi Station of Konan Railway.
Car: 10 min. from Tohoku Expressway IC to the city center
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.
Tsugaru Folklore Crafts Museum
・13:00〜16:00 Kuroishi Yosare Kumiai Grand Prize
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Location
Tsugaru Folklore Crafts Museum (65-1 Fukuro-tomiyama, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture)
Access
Public transportation: 25 minutes from Kuroishi Station of Konan Railway by Konan Bus "Onkawa Line" or "Okawara Line
By Car: Approximately 10 minutes from the Tohoku Expressway IC toward Lake Towada
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.
Kuroishi City
・19:00～20:30 Kuroishi Yosare Nagashi Odori
Friday, August 16, 2024
・19:00～20:30 Kuroishi Yosare Nagashi Odori
*For the course of Kuroishi Yosare Nagashi Odori, please check the Kuroishi Tourist Association website below.
Summary of schedule
・9:00〜10:00 Safety Prayer Festival (Kuroishi Shrine)
・11:00〜17:30 Kuroishi Yosare Rock Fest. 2024 (Ekimae Plaza)
Thursday, August 15, 2024
・13:30～17:30 Kuroishi Yosare Tsugaru Minyo Kumiai Dance Competition (Kuroishi Community Center Multipurpose Hall)
・18:30～18:40 Night Kagura (main venue)
・18:40～19:00 Kuroishi Yosare Opening Ceremony (~Departure Declaration) (main venue)
・19:00～20:00 30 Kuroishi Yosare Nagashi Odori (Kuroishi City)
・20:30～21:00 Odori Hadari (Main venue)
Friday, August 16, 2024
・13:00～16:00 Kuroishi Yosare Kumi Odori Grand Prize (Tsugaru Folk Crafts Museum)
・13:00～16:00 Sing and Dance♪ Minna de Yosare (Kuroishi Community Center Multipurpose Hall)
・18:40～18:50 Yomikagura (Night Dance) 40～18:50 Night Kagura (Main venue)
・18:50～19:00 Departure Ceremony (Main venue)
・19:00～20:30 Kuroishi Yosare Nagashi Odori (Kuroishi City)
・20:30～21:00 Janori Hadari (Main venue)
Saturday, August 17, 2024
・19:00～21:00 Kuroishi Yosare Kaitori Odori (Station Square)
August 18 (Sun.), 2024
・19:00～21:00 Kuroishi Yosare Mawari Odori Dance (Ekimae Plaza)
At the end
Even beginners are free to join in the Mawari Odori dance, and the dance is not difficult, so please enjoy it!
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