The Hanagasa Festival has now become a seasonal summer event in Yamagata Prefecture, but did you know that it has many roots?

Before introducing the Hanagasa experience, we would like to briefly explain the Hanagasa Dance.

1. The History of Hanagasa Dance

There are various theories, but this time we will introduce one of them.

Going back to the Taisho era.

At that time, Lake Tokura in Obanazawa City was being constructed as an agricultural reservoir.

In the days before there were heavy machinery like we have today, people would sing songs to forget the pain of the hard, grueling labor of pounding earth, and to keep in sync.

Workers gathered from all over Japan sang the “Tsuchiki no Uta” (Pounding Song), mixing songs from their respective hometowns, and the newly sung tsuchiki no Uta (Pounding Song) is said to be the “Hanagasa Ondo Song.”

The shouts of “Yasho, makasho!”, which are characteristic of the Hanagasa Ondo song, were apparently used to boost morale during farm work at the time.

It is said that the impromptu dance performed while twirling hats to the tune of the earth-pounding song is the origin of the “Hanagasa Dance.”

2. Traditional hats decorated with safflower

These adorable “hanagasa” hats are used by dancers at the Hanagasa Festival.

The sedge hat, which was essential for protection from the sun and rain during pounding work, was decorated with paper flowers dyed with safflower, a specialty of Yamagata, and became the “hanagasa.”

3. The colorful Hanagasa dance

In 1963, the “Hanagasa Ondo Song Grand Parade,” which was held as part of the “Zao Summer Festival” in Yamagata City, attracted a great response, and from the following year it began to be held annually as the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival.

The choreography was also revised and the current unified, official Hanagasa Dance was established.

After doing some research, I found that there are different types of dances like this.

● Authentic Hanagasa Dance ~Kunpuu Mogami River~ (also known as the women’s dance)

● Authentic Hanagasa Dance ~Zao Zao Gyokou~ (also known as the men’s dance)

● Fragrant Breeze Mogami River

● Zao Dawn

● Hanagasa Dance with a Spinning Hat

There are many different types of Hanagasa dance that we know!

Furthermore, the choreography of the Hanagasa dance apparently incorporates scenes from picking safflowers and pounding the earth.

4. Experience the Hanagasa dance all year round

At the Hanagasa Festival, each group puts on their own dances and performances, captivating the audience.

The Hanagasa Festival captivates us with its various dances, but this time we would like to introduce some options that allow you to experience the Hanagasa Festival all year round, not just for the three days from August 5th to August 7th.

In the Hanagasa experience we are introducing, we will have a dance instructor from Yamagata University’s Hanagasa club Shimensoka who will give a detailed and thorough lecture on the meaning and movements of the dance.

We also have a plan available that allows you to enjoy the authentic Hanagasa Dance of Shimensoka up close while savoring Yamagata specialties and local sake at a local Japanese restaurant.

◆ Dancing Hanagasa Experience - Participate in traditional Yamagata culture!

For this experience, we will have a dance instructor from Yamagata University’s Hanagasa Circle Shimensoka giving a lecture on the Hanagasa Dance.

The content is designed so that even beginners can participate with confidence, and it is a rare opportunity to experience the traditional culture of the Yamagata people while learning about the history of the Hanagasa Dance.

Why not come and experience the authentic Hanagasa Dance?

◆ Watching Hanagasa Experience - Enjoy traditional Yamagata culture!

In this experience, you can watch an authentic Hanagasa Dance right before your eyes while enjoying Yamagata specialties and local sake at a local Japanese restaurant.

The dancers will be Shimensoka, a Hanagasa circle from Yamagata University who are working to popularize and pass on the Yamagata Hanagasa Dance.

If you come to Yamagata City, why not experience the Hanagasa Dance right before your eyes?

5. What does it mean to be surrounded by enemies?

During the Hanagasa experience, members of Yamagata University’s Hanagasa Club, Shimensoka, will be giving lectures on dance and performing dance routines.

This time, we actually visited the venue and were taught how to dance!

Tips on how to dance, the meaning of the dance, etc.

The lectures were kind and easy to understand, so I was able to enjoy dancing.

The name of the group, Shimensoka, is originally used in a negative sense to mean “surrounded by enemies and in a desperate situation.”

They chose this name in a positive sense, hoping that they would surround themselves with “participants” rather than “enemies” and have fun together.

Why not join everyone at Shimensoka and enjoy this experience together, where you can have fun and have fun together, just as the name suggests?

6. Conclusion

The Hanagasa Dance experience can be booked all year round, except during the Hanagasa Festival from August 4th to August 7th.

Reservations must be made one month in advance, so please apply early.