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

Morioka Sansa Odori synonymous with summer in Iwate , the "Six Great Tohoku Festivals," taking place from August 1st to 4th, and is the first festival to liven up the Tohoku summer.

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

The origin of Sansa Dance

It is said that

the roots of Sansa Odori the "slaying of demons " Long ago, a demon called "Rasetsu" was committing evil deeds in this area, and the people, at their wit's end, prayed to the god of Mitsuishi Shrine to slay the demon.
The god heard their prayer, captured the Rasetsu, and tied him to a large rock (Mitsuishi) within the shrine grounds.

The captured Rakshasa vowed never to do any more mischief, and as proof of this, stamped his handprint on a large rock before running away.

The people were overjoyed to have their peaceful lives restored, and they began dancing around the large rock where the demon had left his handprint, " Sansa dance , Sansa dance ," which is said to be the beginning of the Sansa Dance .

It is also said that this episode , "Handprint on the Rock," is the origin of the name of Iwate Prefecture

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

"Rock" and a demon's "hand" shape? Mitsuishi Shrine, filled with Iwate's roots [Iwate Prefecture]

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 taiko drum parade

In 2014, Morioka Sansa Odori was recognized by the Guinness World Records for the "Largest Japanese drum ensemble."

It was once certified by Guinness in 2007 with 2,571 participants, but in 2011, the Sansa Odori record was broken by the "Sanzennin Taiko" event held in Kumamoto City, which attracted 2,778 participants.

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

What kind of dance is Morioka Sansa Odori?

The Morioka Sansa Odori festival began in 1978, but the Sansa Odori itself has a long history, having been danced in Morioka and its surrounding areas during Obon and other festivals since the days of the Nanbu domain over 300 years ago. There

are two main types of Sansa Odori "Traditional Sansa" and "Unified Sansa."

Traditional Sansa

This dance has been passed down in various regions since the days of the Nanbu domain, and the costumes and dance style differ from region to region

There are preservation societies all over the country dedicated to passing on traditional Sansa, a precious local performing art, to future generations, and four groups have been registered as Iwate Prefecture's Intangible Folk Cultural Properties, and 15 groups as Morioka City's Intangible Folk Cultural Properties

Unified Sansa

This dance was created to coincide with the start of the Morioka Sansa Odori in 1978. It was choreographed to be danceable by anyone, taking inspiration from the traditional Sansa dances of each region

There are four types of performances in the Unification Sansa

• First Integrated Sansa
• Second verse: Tanabata Kuzushi
• Third Dance: Eyasa Dance
• Number 4: Fukko Dance

, there is not only a spectacular parade of unified Sansa dances, but a "Traditional Sansa Odori Competition"

A spell to bring happiness? What does the chant "Sakkora Choiwayasse" mean?

During the Sansa Odori dance, both the dancers and the drummers chant "Sakkora Choiwayasse." When written in kanji, "Sakkora" "koukorai , which means

"to bring happiness, to come There is also another "Hara, hara, harase!" is said to mean

"to exorcise evil spirits." is an auspicious chant that drives away evil spirits and brings happiness, so why not sing it along to the rhythm of the drums!

Instruments used in the Sansa Dance

The Sansa Dance performance consists of drums, flutes, and gongs

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

I have actually participated in a parade as a drummer, and the weight of the drum is quite impressive. The drummers beat the drum while swinging their bodies from side to side, jumping and hopping on one foot, and march through the parade for about 1 km

summary

Sansa Dance is a joyful dance with many stories unique to Iwate, a region with many legends about demons

Let's join in the fun of the Morioka people of that time, who defeated demons and brought happiness to the people, and enjoy Tohoku's short summer by shouting "Sakkora Choiwayasse!"

Morioka Sansa Dance <Information>

• Name: Morioka Sansa Dance
• Event period: August 1st to 4th
• Official URL: https://sansaodori.jp/

naka

Thank you for reading the article.
I'm naka, a writer born and raised in Tohoku.
His hobby is visiting temples and shrines.
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