Takahanari Shima-ashibi mid summer on Miyagi Island

Local youth practice Eisa among sugar cane fields on Miyagi Island.

Local youth practice Eisa among sugar cane fields on Miyagi Island.

Visiting eisa festivals in local small hamlets is an uniquely charming experience as local residents put together and perform all programs. These events are not organized to entertain and attract tourists, but as genuine community parties for the benefit of local residents, although outsiders are always welcomed.

Miyagi eisa group practices year round.

Miyagi eisa group practices year round.

Takahanari Shima Ashibi is one such eisa festival takes place on Miyagi Junior High School grounds on Miyagi Island in Uruma City this Saturday.

The festival organizers aim at preserving local traditions and at the same time, promotion of Miyagi Island that, like so many other rural communities, is losing its young people to large cities. The goal is to promote local specialties, revitalize and make the island again attractive to young people. To this end festival organizers hope to foster exchange of friendships and communication between residents and people from outside.

The festival runs from 15:00 with the stage program starting at 17:00. The event winds down at 21:00.

Eisa on the stage includes teams from the Nakano and other neighborhoods in Tokyo in addition to local eisa and performing arts groups. Booths in the festival are sell locally produced foods and handicrafts. There are also handicraft experience programs at some of the booths.

Admission to the festival is free and organizers expect more than 1,000 people to attend.

True folk art does not need fancy surroundings..

True folk art does not need fancy surroundings..

TAJ-OKINAWA_12.10

20:22 28 Mar , 2024