“Morioka Sansa Odori” (Sansa Japanese Drum Festival) is one of the Tohoku Five Great Summer Festivals, along with “Aomori Nebuta Festival“, “Akita Kanto Festival“, “Yamagata Hanagasa Festival”, and “Sendai Tanabata Festival“. “Morioka Sansa Odori” will be held first among them. It is held every year from August 1st to 4th. Previously it was held until the 3rd, but since the number of participating organizations has increased with the recent increase in popularity, the “Daiwa-odori Dance” has been held on the 4th.
Morioka Sansa Odori has been around for 400 years. It seems that the number of participants has increased in recent years. Now, it is an indispensable event for the popular summer festival with about 35,000 people, including about 240 organizations such as groups of “Traditional Sansa” from the workplace and clubs.
Every year on July 31, there is the Morioka Sansa Odori eve. You can see students and children performing Sansa Odori Dance at “Taki no Hiroba” in front of Morioka Station. Would you like to see the cute “Sansa Odori Danc” of the children?
Introducing the location of Morioka Sansa Odori. The main venue will be the “Morioka Chuo Street” venue. Here you can watch dances and a parade where you can experience the power of taiko. Traditional Miss Sansa dances and Sansa Taiko Ren will appear in the sub- venues “Morioka Citizen’s Culture Hall” and “JR Morioka Station Mae Taki no Hiroba”. If the outdoor event is canceled due to stormy weather, it will be held at the Morioka Citizen Culture Hall.
In Morioka Sansa Odori, many stalls line up around Sakurayama Shrine. There are many shops selling yakitori and shops selling beer. It seems to be fun to buy street food and watch Sansa dance. There are many things that kids might like. There are also popular foods that can only be eaten in Morioka, so it is also recommended for tourists.
The traditional Sansa that has been handed down in the district is also a must-see. There are Sizukuishi-cho Kami-machi taiko tradition, Senboku Kotaka Sansa Odori preservation society, Oosawa Sansa preservation society. Every district has powerful ways of dancing and different costumes. The final drum drum parade is overwhelming. Also pay attention to how traditional Sansa dances.
The theme of Morioka Sansa Odori is the festival of “Come, Watch, Be Enchanted, Join”. “Daiwa-odori Dance” will be held at the final day, where anyone can participate. Even if you’re worried about how to dance, people called “Sansa, Master Oheren” with a yellow cord gently teach you how to dance. Would you like to dance happily together on the last day?
Introducing access information to the festival venue. From Tokyo Station to Morioka Station, take the Japan Railway Tohoku Shinkansen “Hayabusa” and it will take a minimum of 2 hours and 10 minutes. From Morioka Station, you can reach the festival venue in about 15 minutes on foot.
Since 1 million people visit every year, traffic restrictions are imposed around the venue early so we recommend early action.
Many female dancer are excited at the festival
“Morioka Sansa Odori” (Sansa Japanese Drum Festival) is a festival held for four days in summer in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Many female dancer are excited at the festival which is developed mainly by women. Especially it is also interesting to show different dances in each group with dancers dancing with drums highlighted. Although it is the “Morioka Sansa Odori” centering on the parade, there are also events where regular guests can participate.
Morioka Sansa Odori is an event held in early August every year in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, and is one of the five great festivals in the Tohoku region. Origin of such Morioka Sansa Odori is surprisingly new, it began in 1978. It is supposed to be one of the big tourism events that integrated “Sansa Odori” which had been held from around the Edo era in various places in Morioka City.
Sansa Odori related to the legend that became a prefecture name is a dance with the prayers of well-being, Gokokuhojo (bumper crop), driving for the devils for Morioka people. At the festival, women dressed in beautiful decoration and kimono dance to the sound of Japanese drum. Also, the drum players of women dancing while striking the drums is one of the highlights.
Representative festival of Tohoku province
The “Morioka Sansa Matsuri” is the festival performed from August 1 through 4th every year in Morioka-shi, Iwate. It is one of the representative festival of Tohoku area.
Awarded a Guinness record
It was awarded a Guinness record as “the world record of the Japanese drum simultaneous performance” in 2014, and became the festival of the world’s best drum.
Gorgeous outfit
“Morioka Sansa Matsuri” is the great parade with traditional “Sansa Wa-Odori” (dance in a circle), drums, flutes, songs, and dancers. The group dancing by the dancers, who wore gorgeous outfit, with the drum parade is the best part.
Drum roaring the sky of the midsummer
Originally, Sansa Matsuri is the “Bon Odori” (festival dance) that has been popular among local people for a long time. They perform a dance in a group to the rhythm of a drum roaring the sky of the midsummer.
Splendid dance of Miss “Sansa Odori”
A parade starts from in front of Morioka-shi government office.
Starting at a splendid dance of Miss “Sansa Odori” (Sansa Dance), the dance groups of the general participation and the group of traditional members follow.
The Night of Morioka reaches the peak
The parade of “Sansa Drums”, which set a world record for “the Japanese drum simultaneous performance record”, only is performed on the last day. The state that innumerable drums play at the same time is the best part. The Night of Morioka reaches the peak.
Information(Access, Price/Charge, Tel, Address, Official site, etc.)
| Name: | Morioka Sansa Matsuri (Sansa Japanese Drum Festival) |
| Adresse: | Chuodori Morioka, Iwate 020-0021 Japan |
| Access: | JR Tohoku-Shinkansen Line “Morioka-eki Station” (15 minutes walk) |
| Tel: | (+81) 19-624-5880 (Sansa Matsuri Executive Committee) |
| Price/Charge: | Free |
| Official site: | http://www.sansaodori.jp/ |
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