Eisa for the fun of it

July 15th, 2009By Category: Uncategorized

eisa-for-the-fun-of-it2Those of us who live on Okinawa started to notice something going on back in early June. Perhaps it was the rhythmic beat of the drums in the cool evening air. On some occasions, maybe you heard the occasional sound of chanting or singing accompanying it. If you braved the heat and humidity to venture out to investigate, perhaps you even noticed the gatherings of young people practicing a strange ritual dance.

This strange behavior climaxes in July and runs through the Obon festivities in August. Here on Okinawa, nothing says summer more than an Eisa Festival. They’re a summer-time staple here in the Goya Republic and just about every weekend you’ll find one happening somewhere!

During the festivals, throughout the sweltering days and on into the sultry nights, the air is filled with the rhythmic beat of drums and the atmosphere is nothing short of electric. The surroundings seem to be enchanted and everyone is in the mood for having a good time.

In addition to the Eisa dance troupes from around the island competing against each other, there are also special performances of classic Ryukyu dance, Shisa dances and hoards of little people from various preschools are all dressed up and doing their best to stay in time with the music. Sometimes the performers even make the trip from some of the outlying islands to compete.

The beginnings of Eisa are not entirely certain. Most accounts give it a Buddhist origin. Throw in a pinch of Taoism with a dash of Confucianism and you probably have it just about right. To the uninitiated, each dance routine looks similar. There is however, a subtle variation that is unique to each town. Over the years uniforms worn have become more colorful and the style of music can vary from the more traditional to modern pop.

Some have said that Eisa is the dance for the dead. While the predominant religious belief here centers on Ancestor’s worship there is far more to it than that. Eisa is for the young and old alike and is just as much for the living as it is for remembrance. It’s about life, bountiful harvests and the hopes for the future. Most of all, it’s about getting together and having fun.

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Author of this article

Keith Graff

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