Ryukyu Mura, Kin prepare for Summer Eisa Festival

A total of eight eisa groups from around Okinawa are descending upon Ryukyu Mura theme park in north central Okinawa for the 4th Ryukyu Mura Eisa Festival on Sunday.

Ryukyu Mura opens its doors at 9 a.m. for the event at Chuo Hiroba in Ryukyu Mura, and remains open until 6 p.m. with last entry at 5:30 p.m. Entry is ¥840 for adults, ¥730 for high school and college students showing ID, and ¥430 for those age 3 through junior high school students.

The actual eisa performances are free. Ryukyu Mura is an old style Okinawa theme park with exhibits and demonstrations of how this island culture used to be. Eisa groups will dance in front of the park first, then shift to the main stage.

Eisa groups are coming from Yomitan Kijyoka, Urasoe Takushi, Uruma Katsuren Yonashiro, Kadena Chuouku, Uruma Gushikawa Nishihara, Nanjyo Sashiki Tsukishiro, Nakijin Nakasone and Uruma Ishikawa Asahjikawa youth teams. Eisa performances start at the park entrance at 10:45 a.m., and on the main stage at 11 a.m.

The 13th Kin Town Eisa Festival is taking place at Kin Athletic Field Park, also on Sunday. The specialty of Kin-style Eisa is a slow start then speeding up. Not hit only drums but also bells are used in the performance. Five groups from Kin Town and another three guest groups from outside of town will perform.

The event starts at 5 p.m. at the entry is free. Fireworks and Kachashi dance, in which everyone is invited to join, will end the event.

In case of inclement weather, Kin Eisa Festival will be postponed to 8/31.

07:37 24 Apr , 2024