Morioka Sansa Odori

Overview

The Morioka Sansa Odori is one of the leading summer festivals of the Tohoku region, held over four days from August 1 to 4 each year in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Widely known as one of the great summer traditions of Tohoku alongside the Aomori Nebuta Festival, the Akita Kanto Festival, and the Sendai Tanabata Festival, it unfolds along Chuo-dori in central Morioka as a splendid parade uniting drummers, flute players, and dancers. To the shout of Sakkora Choiwa Yasse, dancers in vividly colored costumes move with grace while countless drums resound like a rolling of the earth, filling the summer nights of Morioka with heat and excitement.

The greatest feature of this festival is its simultaneous drumming. In 2007, it was certified by Guinness World Records for the largest number of people playing Japanese drums at once, and after subsequent record changes it reclaimed the world title in 2014. Since then, under the banner of the world's greatest drum parade, the grand dance of ten thousand drums, performed by drummers young and old, has become the symbol of the festival. Blending elegant dancing with valiant drumming, the festival draws many spectators from Japan and abroad over four days, and the whole city seethes with dance and music.

History and Origins

The origin of the Sansa Odori itself goes back to the domain era, and the Mitsuishi Shrine in Nasukawa-cho, Morioka City, is regarded as its birthplace. Mitsuishi Shrine preserves a tale of demon subjugation known as the Legend of the Three Rocks, which has been handed down as the origin of the Sansa Odori. This legend is also deeply connected to the origin of the very name of the region, forming a core of local identity that goes beyond a mere account of a dance's beginnings.

According to the legend, long ago a demon called Rasetsu appeared in Morioka and tormented the people. At their wits' end, the villagers prayed to the deity of Mitsuishi Shrine. The deity granted their wish, captured the evil demon, and made it press its handprints upon the three great rocks, the Mitsuishi, standing within the precincts as a pledge that it would never do evil again. Because handprints were left on the rocks, it is said that the land came to be called Iwate, meaning rock hands, and this is known as one account of the origin of the prefecture's name.

Overjoyed that the demon had promised never to appear again and had departed, the people danced around the three rocks chanting Sansa Sansa, and this is said to be the beginning of the Sansa Odori. Thus a simple folk dance, handed down among farmers and townspeople, took root in the life of Morioka over long years, giving rise to diverse local styles. Imbued with meanings of prayer, gratitude, and the warding off of misfortune, the dance has been transmitted across the generations.

The present large-scale form of the festival, centered on a parade, began in 1978. By integrating the various Sansa dances handed down in different areas into a single festival and developing them into a parade format through the city center, the Morioka Sansa Odori dramatically expanded in scale. Though its history is relatively short, it has grown into one of the foremost summer festivals of Tohoku through attention-grabbing efforts such as achieving a Guinness World Record for simultaneous drumming.

Highlights

The World's Greatest Drum Parade The symbol of the Morioka Sansa Odori is the grand parade in which countless Japanese drums are struck all at once. In 2007 it was certified by Guinness World Records for the largest number of people playing drums simultaneously, and in 2014 it reclaimed the world title. The thunder of drums called the grand dance of ten thousand drums resounds to the core of the body and overwhelms the spectators.

The Graceful Dance of the Performers Another highlight is the sight of dancers clad in vividly colored costumes moving elegantly to the music of drums and flutes. The unified group dance, with supple hand movements and light footsteps, is beautiful, adding a grace that contrasts with the valiant drumming to color the festival.

The Shout of Sakkora Choiwa Yasse Indispensable to the dance is the distinctive shout of Sakkora Choiwa Yasse. This cry is said to carry the meaning of inviting good fortune, and as dancers and spectators raise their voices together, the excitement of the venue reaches its peak. This memorable rhythm is cherished as a sound of Morioka's summer.

Miss Sansa Odori and the Drum Corps The Miss Sansa Odori who splendidly lead the festival, and the well-disciplined performances of the drum corps, are also not to be missed. Each participating group forms a procession with its own ingenuity, and the way drummers of all ages march as one reveals the passion of a community that supports the festival with all its members.

Performances of Traditional Sansa Dances Along with the modern parade, the display of traditional Sansa dances handed down since ancient times in each district is another attraction. The choreography and melodies that differ from area to area preserve traces of the diverse styles the Sansa Odori had before its integration, conveying the depth of a folk performing art.

The Heat that Colors the Summer Nights The parades, held from evening into night over four days, are a feast of light and sound unfolding under the summer sky. The heat of the drums and the exhilaration of the dance, mounting as the day darkens, transform the city of Morioka into an extraordinary space that captivates all who visit.

Access and Information

• Location: Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
• Venue: The city center with Chuo-dori (from in front of the Iwate Prefectural Public Hall to Eigakan-dori) as the main site
• Dates: August 1 to 4 each year (parade begins at 6 p.m.)
• In case of rain: Handled at venues such as the Morioka Civic Cultural Hall (Marios)
• Access: Within walking distance from JR Morioka Station to the venue
• Organizer and inquiries: Morioka Sansa Odori Executive Committee (within the Morioka Chamber of Commerce and Industry)

Around the Area

Mitsuishi Shrine, regarded as the birthplace of the Sansa Odori, is located in Nasukawa-cho, Morioka City, where three enormous granite rocks stand behind Tokenji Temple. As the setting of the demon handprint legend and the place said to be the origin of the name Iwate, this shrine is a special site where one can touch the origins of the festival. Visiting it together with the festival allows a deeper appreciation of the story of the Morioka Sansa Odori.

Morioka is a former castle town through which the Kitakami and Nakatsu rivers flow, and historic sites such as Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park) are scattered throughout the city. The charming townscape, famous trees such as the Ishiwari-zakura cherry that splits a rock, and the locally beloved three great noodles of Morioka, wanko soba, reimen, and jajamen, further enrich the pleasures of the festival season.

Morioka is also a major station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, and around it spread attractions such as the Hanamaki hot spring resorts, Koiwai Farm, and places connected to the poet Kenji Miyazawa. As a base for a journey through the Tohoku summer, the Morioka Sansa Odori is a festival well worth visiting together with the three great festivals of Tohoku.

Related Information

• Month: August (summer)
• Prefecture and region: Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Tohoku region
• Origins: Derived from the Legend of the Three Rocks at Mitsuishi Shrine in the domain era
• Start of the current festival: Fully established in parade form in 1978
• Records: Guinness World Record for simultaneous drum players in 2007, world title reclaimed in 2014

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