[Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture] What is the history and types of Morioka Sansa Odori? The Guinness World Records drum parade is spectacular!

  • naka
  • Last updated: 2024.07.17

Morioka Sansa Odori which is synonymous with summer in Iwate , the six major festivals in Tohoku , scheduled for August 1st to August 4th, and is the first festival to liven up summer in Tohoku.

This time, we will introduce the history and types of Morioka Sansa Odori in detail.

Origin of Sansa dance

It is said that

the roots of the Sansa dance ``extermination of demons'' Long ago, a demon called "Rasetsu" was doing evil deeds in this area, and the troubled people prayed to the god of Mitsuishi Shrine to exterminate the demon.
Then the god heard his wish and captured Rakshasa and tied him to a large rock (Mitsuishi) in the temple grounds.

It is said that the captured Rakshasa vowed never to do anything bad again, stamped his handprint on a large rock as proof of his promise, and ran away.

The people who had regained their peaceful lives were overjoyed, and the demons danced around the large rock where they had left their handprints, chanting " Sansa dance , Sansa dance said to be the beginning of the Sansa dance.

This episode is also said to be the origin of the name of Iwate Prefecture, which is ``a handprint on a rock.''

Tohoku Rokken trivia media: NEFT
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[Iwate Prefecture] Is a rock shaped like a demon's hand? Mitsuishi Shrine, full of Iwate’s roots
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/29719
In the center of Morioka City, if you go north from the Jujutsu-mae intersection where Ishiwarizakura (Ishiwarizakura) is located on Chuo-dori Street, you will see Token-ji Temple along the road. Behind this temple is a shrine called Mitsuishi Shrine. In the precincts of this shrine, which has long been known locally as ``Mitsuishi-sama,'' there are three huge granite rocks strung with shimenawa ropes. It is said to have become the roots of The legend of Mitsuishi-sama, who punished demons Once upon a time, when this area was not yet called Iwate or Morioka, there was a story of a ``Rasetsu demon'' who did evil things to residents and travelers in the surrounding area...
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Guinness World Record Holder! The world's largest drum parade

Morioka Sansa Odori was recognized in the Guinness World Records as ``Largest Japanese Drum Ensemble.''

It was once recognized by Guinness in 2007 with 2,571 participants, but in 2011, the event "Sansennin Taiko" held in Kumamoto City attracted 2,778 participants, breaking the Sansa Odori record.

In 2014, many participants gathered from not only Iwate Prefecture but also from all over the country in hopes of regaining the Guinness World Record and recovering from the Great East Japan Earthquake.The event regained its glory once again with 3,437 participants, far exceeding the previous record.

What kind of dance is Morioka Sansa Odori?

Morioka Sansa Dance
Morioka Sansa Dance

The Morioka Sansa Odori is a festival that started in 1971, but the Sansa Odori itself has a long history and has been danced during Obon festivals in Morioka City and its surrounding areas since the Nanbu domain era more than 300 years ago. It is said.

There are two main types of Sansa dance traditional Sansa and unified Sansa

Tradition

It is a dance that has been passed down in each region since the Nanbu domain era, and the costumes and dancing styles differ depending on the region.

Preservation societies exist in various places to pass on traditional sansa, a valuable local performing art, to future generations, and 4 organizations are registered as Iwate Prefecture designated intangible folk cultural properties and 15 organizations are registered as Morioka City designated intangible folk cultural properties. Masu.

Unification Sansa

This dance was created to coincide with the beginning of the Morioka Sansa Odori in 1978. The choreography was designed so that everyone can dance together, while referring to the traditions of each region.

There are 4 types of performances in Toei Sansa.

  • The most integrated
  • Number 2 Tanabata Kuzushi
  • No. 3 Eyasa dance
  • No. 4 Fukko dance

During the Sansa Odori period, there is not only a spectacular parade of unified Sansa dancers, but also a ``Traditional Sansa Dance Competition''

A spell that brings happiness? What is the meaning of the chant “Sakkola choiwayasse”?

During the Sansa dance, both the dancers and the drum beaters "Sakkola choiwayasse" as they dance. When expressed in kanji, ``Sakkora'' means

``happily , '' which means ``to bring happiness.'' another , ``Hara, hara, harase!'' , but this one has the meaning of

``exorcising evil spirits'' Let's join together and sing along to the rhythm of the drums, auspicious chants that ward off evil spirits and bring happiness!

Instruments used in Sansa dance

The Sansa dance performance consists of drums, flutes, and gongs.

Sansa dance drum
Sansa dance drum

Among them, the drum, which is synonymous with the festival, has a diameter of about 50 cm and weighs about 7 kg. 7kg is equivalent to about 14 500ml plastic bottles.

I have actually participated in a parade as a taiko drummer, and the weight of the drums is quite impressive. They swing their bodies from side to side, jump and jump on one leg, beat the drums, and march for about 1km in the parade.

summary

Sansa Odori is a joyful dance with stories unique to Iwate, where many demon legends remain.

Let's enjoy the short summer in Tohoku together by chanting "Sakkorachoiwayasse" in memory of the people of Morioka at the time, who exterminated demons and brought happiness!

Morioka Sansa Dance＜Information＞

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