About the Owara Kaze no Bon Festival

About
the Owara Kaze no Bon
Festival

The Beginnings of the Owara Kaze no Bon Festival

The Owara Kaze no Bon Festival is held at the beginning of fall, 210 days after the first day of spring, when the winds begin to blow. The Festival is a traditional event with a 300-year history dating back to the Genroku Era (around 1700 AD). Since long ago, many people have come to visit, and even to this day, many people continue to visit.
The Owara Kaze no Bon Festival begins when the mountains turn red with the setting sun and the bonbori lanterns, lined along the rows of houses, are lit with a faint glow. Wearing matching yukata and happi coats, the dancers peek through the gaps in their traditional braided hats as they dance gracefully and delicately. Each town has its own set of traditions and characteristics, which are displayed fully in the singing and dancing of the festival during the parade. Behind the town procession, people naturally join one by one, captivated by the sorrowful melodies, gradually becoming immersed in the spirit of the Owara festival.

The History of Owara

The History of Owara

When did the Owara festival begin? While the exact date is uncertain due to the lack of precise records, it is believed to have started in March 1702. The festival is said to have originated when Yoneya Shobei, the founder of the town of Yatsuo, successfully reclaimed the special permit needed to establish the town. This achievement led to a grand celebration, with the entire town parading for three days and three nights. During the springtime festivities, lively performances featuring shamisen, taiko drums, shakuhachi, and other instruments were accompanied by folk songs and joruri (a type of sung narrative with shamisen). Participants donned elaborate costumes as they paraded. Over time, the festival was moved to coincide with Urabon-e, held on the 15th day of the seventh month of the old Japanese calendar. It became known as “Kaze no Bon,” a festival dedicated to the repose of the wind god, and is now celebrated from September 1st to 3rd.

About Owara

In the Edo Period, local experts in traditional performing arts from Yatsuo created a song in the 7-5 rhythm pattern, which included the word “Owarahi” (meaning “great laughter”). This song was sung during the parade through the town, and it is said that this practice led to the name “Owara.” There are various theories about the origin of the name, such as the “Owara Theory,” which suggests that it originated from a wish for a bountiful harvest and a desire for straw bundles to grow larger, and the “Ohara Village Theory,” which proposes that it began with a girl from nearby Ohara Village singing the song.

About the Kaze no Bon Festival

Many typhoons typically occur around the period before and after the 210th day after the first day of spring. A prayer to appease the wind god is performed to prevent damage to crops before harvest and to seek blessings for a bountiful and abundant harvest. Thus, the festival is called Kaze no Bon (Wind festival). Additionally, there is a local custom where holidays are referred to as “Bon” in contexts such as “seed planting bon” or “transplanting bon,” which suggests that the name might have originated from this practice.

Echoes That Accompany the Song

Echoes That Accompany the Song

The jikata play an indispensable role in the Owara Kaze no Bon Festival. The jikata are the performers who sing, perform in a hayashi band, and perform with instruments such as the shamisen, taiko drums, and kokyu. The shamisen provides a melody that is followed by the kokyu to add a melancholy tone. The taiko drummers beat a light rhythm, while the hayashi band players provide instrumental accompaniment for the singers. Singing styles vary by area, so please try and enjoy the contrast between the deeply emotional songs and the uniquely melancholic melodies.

The 3 Owara Dances

The 3 Owara Dances

The “Owara no Bon”, like other folk songs, started as just singing. Over time, musical instruments accompanied the song and then a dance was also added. The dance performed in the past has changed over time and currently there are three different ways to perform the dance.
It is said that the dance originated in 1911 at an event to commemorate the 1,000th issue of the Hokuriku Times (the predecessor of the Kitanippon Shimbun), when the geisha girls at the event improvised the dance.

  • Harvest Festival Dance

    Harvest Festival Dance

    This dance is a very old dance that takes inspiration from the many typical movements involved in farming such as sowing and harvesting rice. Both the male and female dances are referred to as the “new dances,” which is why this particular dance is often referred to as the “old dance.”

  • Male Dance

    Male Dance

    This dance was choreographed for the male stage by the Japanese dance master Wakayagi Kichisaburo. It is a straightforward and simple dance that displays a fascinating combination of both strength and grace while incorporating farm work gestures.

  • Female Dance

    Female Dance

    The female dance can also be referred to as the “Four Season Dance” and was choreographed for Kosugi Hoan’s poem “Yatsuo Shiki” (a poem about the four seasons in Yatsuo). Later, movements were added, representing women entertaining themselves by catching fireflies to complete the dance.

The Unique Characteristics of Each of the 11 Town Subdivisions

The Owara Kaze no Bon Festival takes place in 11 towns known as the “old towns.” Each of the 11 towns has its own subdivision of the Toyama Prefecture Folk Song Etchu-Yatsuo Owara Preservation Society. The Owara Bushi music and dance performance is generally performed similarly; however, there are variations in singing and dancing depending on the subdivision, due to the old traditional characteristics that still remain to this day.

Map

Modern-Day Owara

In June, the singers and people of each town come together to practice before displaying the results of their practice at the “Onshukai” presentation as well as at the “Owara Performance Recital,” which takes place during July and is held by the Preservation Society. Finally, the performers are ready to welcome the Owara Kaze no Bon Festival, which takes place from September 1st–3rd. The Owara Kaze no Bon Festival starts every year at 17:00 and features each of the 11 subdivisions marching in a parade at their own separate locations, with some divisions featuring a special stage. Each subdivision features differing dance moves, yukata colors and patterns, and even different song lyrics, so we recommend seeing the performances from different towns and comparing their unique differences.

Modern-Day Owara

To Learn More About the Owara Kaze No Bon FestivalVisit the Official Site of the Etchu-Yatsuo Owara Preservation Society

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Experience Owara in Comfort:
Premium Seating Plan for a Relaxed Viewing Experience

The 2024 “Owara Kaze no Bon Festival Stage” will be held at three locations: a special stage in front of Etchu-Yatsuo Station, a special stage at the Hikiyama Exhibition Hall, and the Owara Performance Site at the Yatsuo Elementary School grounds. At the Toyama City Yatsuo Hikiyama Exhibition Hall, you can take a seat at the scheduled time and enjoy a relaxed viewing of the event. (Admission fee: unreserved seat, 3,500 yen).
Also, a special, exclusive plan is available for those who want to enjoy the festival in luxury. For more information, please check out the details below.

Special Stage Presented by Competitive Banquet

Special Stage Presented by Competitive Banquet

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