Seinen Furusato Eisa at Onoyama this weekend

The two-day event features Eisa groups from various locations around the prefecture.

Sounds of Eisa with its distinctive beat of drums has been an Okinawan summer tradition since the beginning of times, and has eventually evolved into a way to promote Okinawan culture and attract visitors to the prefecture.

The festival takes place on Okinawa Celllular Stadium in Onoyama Park in Naha.

A part of Traditional Eisa is on showcase at Onoyama Park in Naha where the Youth Hometown Eisa Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday, at Okinawa Cellular Stadium. The festival kicks off Saturday at 4:30 p.m. for a two-day run, with doors opening at 3 p.m. The festival closes at 9 p.m. The Sunday schedule is the same, with events running 4:30 ~ 9 p.m. Admission for adults age 19 and older is ¥500 for two-day tickets that are available at Family Mart convenience store Famiport vending machines or at the entrance to the venue on the day of the festival.

The event is sponsored by the Festival Executive

Photo-opportunities abound as many groups showcase unique characters.

Committee Eisa Youth Home, the Youth Council of Okinawa Prefecture, Okinawa Prefecture Youth Center, RBC and the Okinawa Times. The Youth Council was founded in 1948, and has been challenging youth through the years with a wide range of social activities, industry, culture and physical education.

This 18th Furusato Youth Festival has expanded to showcase cultural activities, as well as Eisa. Performing arts is now a part of the program.

The festival’s official website (in Japanese) is at http://www.furusatoeisa.com/index.shtml

 

06:34 29 Mar , 2024