[Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture] Festival contents have been renewed! How to enjoy the new festival 120%

The Fukushima Waraji Festival is held every year in early August in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture. It is a festival in which Japan's largest straw sandals are dedicated to Haguro Shrine on Mt. Shinobu to bring wishes for good health, good health, etc. In 2019, the festival was held for the 50th time, and the content has been significantly renewed.

We will introduce how the Fukushima Waraji Festival has changed, the thoughts behind the renewal, and new ways to enjoy the Fukushima Waraji Festival.

Once you know the background of the festival and how to enjoy it, you are sure to enjoy the Fukushima Waraji Festival to the fullest. If you are interested after reading the article, please come and visit the place.

How has Fukushima's famous summer festival changed?

"Fukushima Waraji Festival" in Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture. This is a summer festival that has been held in early August every year since 1970, as a companion to the Shinobu Sanzan Akatsuki Mairi, a winter ritual that has continued since the Edo period. It is famous for featuring Japan's largest waraji, and is counted as one of the six major festivals in Tohoku.

The Fukushima Waraji Festival has undergone a major renewal in 2019, the 50th time it has been held. We have compiled the ``Waraji Festival Story'' based on the legends and folk tales of Fukushima, and have created a story that will become the core of the Waraji Festival and be passed down to future generations.

In addition to traditional ways for citizens to watch and listen to songs and dances, ``Waraji Ondo'' and ``Waraji Odori'' were also born, allowing people to experience a sense of unity between the dancer and the viewer.

What is “Waraji Festival Story”?

This story was created to coincide with the renewal of the Fukushima Waraji Festival in order to pass on the origins of the Waraji Festival and Akatsuki Mairi to future generations.

The story goes that once upon a time, people who were troubled by the evil nature of a large snake that nested in a lake on Mt. Shinobu carried a large waraji on their shoulders as told by a tengu, and were able to transform into a large centipede and slay the snake.

This Waraji Festival story is a fictional story, but it is based on legends and folk tales left in Fukushima. The content of this Waraji Festival story is structured so that it becomes the basis of all the elements that make up the Fukushima Waraji Festival, including the movements, dance, music, and costumes of the great waraji.

What is “Waraji Ondo”?

The original ``Waraji Ondo'' composed by Yuji Koseki, a great musician from Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture, has been re-arranged, and after the festival's renewal, it will be performed live by a large number of people. Incorporating the rhythm of the Fukushima Bon Odori song, the music created a sense of dynamism that could be shared throughout the venue.

What is “Waraji Odori”?

The choreography was devised in conjunction with the festival's renewal as a dance that everyone can enjoy dancing to lively live music. Holding a ring called ``waranowa'' in each hand, young and old alike can dance to the rhythm of their bodies.

What are the thoughts behind the festival renewal?

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For the major renewal in 2019, the general producer was Yoshihide Otomo, a musician with ties to Fukushima City. He is a musician with many accomplishments, including composing the music for NHK's TV drama series ``Ama-chan.''

In order to make the Fukushima Waraji Festival a long-lasting Fukushima tradition, we undertook a major renewal, starting with the production of the Waraji Festival story, which is the foundation of the festival.

From the perspective of creating a festival that others can be proud of, and by extension a community that can be proud of, the Fukushima Waraji Festival focuses on the basics of ``why we hold a festival.'' I can only hope that the thoughts of those who started the festival and those who continue it will be connected, and that it will be passed down into the future as a bright and energetic traditional event of Fukushima.

How to enjoy the renewed Fukushima Waraji Festival

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There are three points to enjoy the new Fukushima Waraji Festival.

• Please read the Waraji Festival Story before participating.
• Make and prepare straw straw
• Participate in Waraji Odori

In other words, the key to the Waraji Festival is how to enjoy a sense of unity with the venue. The feeling of exhilaration that comes from being part of a hugely moving festival is something that is hard to get in everyday life.

Fukushima is a place where people are very warm. I would be happy if you could experience the enthusiasm of the place and fall in love with Fukushima even more.

You can check the Waraji Festival story, how to make the Waraji Festival, the Waraji Odori choreography, etc. on the official website below.

summary

This time, we introduced new ways to enjoy the Fukushima Waraji Festival, which underwent a major renewal in 2019.

The Fukushima Waraji Festival has undergone a major renewal with the aim of creating a new tradition based on the flow that has continued until now. I feel that behind the renewal is the hope that the future of Fukushima, which will continue to carry on the festival, will be vibrant.

Waraji Ondo and Waraji Odori are the heart of the festival, where you can enjoy the Waraji Festival story, music and dance. Be sure to check on-site to see that each line is connected by a single line.