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Okinawa’s huge summer event which more than 300,000 visit each year.
After the Bon Festival of the Lunar calendar ends, Okinawa’s All-Island Eisa Festival is held on that weekend. Eisa is a dance with chanting performed to welcome and send off ancestral spirits during July 13 - 15. With the shamisen (Japanese banjo), singing and drum beat, the traditional art of Okinawa is danced.
In 1956 when Koza City was born, Okinawa All-Island Eisa Festival began on the weekend after the Bon Festival. Along with the main groups selected from Okinawa Islands, sister cities and co-organizers are invited as guests to show their own Eisa dances.
Michijune is held on the first day for people to dance along Koza Gate Street. Okinawa Seinen Matsuri (Okinawa City Youth Festival) is on the second day, featuring the youth dances. The last day is the main part where the youth from all parts of the islands dances Eisa. Okinawa Youth Festival and the main festival offer paid seats. If you are interested to spend time watching the festivities, check it out.
Okinawa Eisa Festival’s climax is the last day’s Kachashi, which means “mixing up.” Performers and viewers dance together, turning the whole space into a fever. The three-day energetic festival is concluded with fireworks.
Various groups perform the traditional Okinawa dance, Eisa
Each group shows a unique Eisa
The last day’s Kachashi brings everybody together for a great finale
