Bon dances were held in various places during the 2024 Obon season.
In Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture, the annual Bitchu Takahashi Matsuyama Odori was held for three days, from August 14 to 16, 2024.
The Bitchu Takahashi Matsuyama Odori is a Bon dance with a long history, continuing from the early Edo period to the present day.
I also danced for all three days, so here is a report on what it was like.
The information presented was current when this article was published in September 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Bitchu Takahashi Matsuyama Odori?
The Bitchu Takahashi Matsuyama Odori is one of Okayama Prefecture’s three major dances (the others are Shiraishi Odori in Kasaoka City and Omiyadori in Maniwa City) and is the largest Bon dance in the prefecture.
The venue is the main street in front of JR Bitchu-Takahashi Station. The event is held every year from August 14 to 16, and during this period the area in front of the station is filled with dancing.
This year marks 377 years of dancing!
As traffic is restricted around the venue, I parked in a temporary parking lot and walked to the venue.
It takes about 10 minutes to walk from the parking lot across the Takahashi River to the venue. The daytime heat had eased, and a pleasant breeze was blowing across the bridge.
There were also signs introducing the Matsuyama Odori along the way.
When I arrived at the venue, a dance circle had already formed.
Matsuyama Odori (local dance) and Yatosa Odori
There are two types of dance, Matsuyama Odori (local dance) and Yatosa Odori, which alternate every 30 minutes.
The Matsuyama Odori (local dance) has a relaxed style, with dancers moving forward while raising their hands from side to side. The Yatosa Odori, on the other hand, has a faster tempo and distinctive movements resembling the playing of Japanese drums.
With lively call-and-response chants of “Yatosa, korasa, doshokaina,” it is popular with young people, too.
The festival music is performed live by members of the Matsuyama Odori Ondo Preservation Society.
There was also a demonstration on stage by the Odori Friends. Their beautiful yet sharp movements were captivating.
Group Dance Contest
On the final day, August 16, the Group Dance Contest was also held from 7 p.m. (15 minutes of Matsuyama Odori and 15 minutes of Yatosa Odori).
The sight of dancers dressed in matching costumes, like those in the Awa Odori, forming dance groups and gathering all at once was spectacular.
After dancing Matsuyama Odori and Yatosa Odori for 15 minutes each, members of the public joined in from 7:30 p.m., and the dancing continued until 10 p.m.
Three-Ren Dance Tickets
If you join the dancing for all three days wearing traditional attire (yukata), you will receive a wooden tag called a “Sanren Odori tag” (limited to 150).
I received one for the first time last year (2023), and this year’s design features “Hyonjuro,” who was newly appointed as the event’s image character.
I immediately put it on my obi alongside last year’s wooden tag.
To receive a Sanren Odori tag, you need to have your stamp card (distributed on the first day) stamped at the headquarters on all three days.
From the Writer
The three-day festival has finally reached its last day.
After the group dance contest introduced earlier, the circle of dancers grows to include members of the public.
Dance lessons are also held for beginners who say, “It’s my first time participating, so I don’t really know how to dance.”
Visitors from overseas were also receiving instruction through gestures and demonstrations. The choreography is simple, so please feel free to join the circle of dancers.
And now, the Yatosa dance as the festival approaches its finale.
As the tempo gradually quickens, the dancers’ excitement reaches its peak.
10 p.m. on August 16.
The three-day festival comes to a grand close.
Everyone headed home looking satisfied with what they had accomplished. Great work, everyone.
See you here again next year.
Bitchu Takahashi Matsuyama Odori Information
| Name | Bitchu Takahashi Matsuyama Odori |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 14 (Wednesday)–16 (Friday), 2024 7 p.m.–10 p.m. |
| Location | Main Street in front of Bitchu-Takahashi Station |
| Admission (tax included) | Free |
| Website | Takahashi City Tourism Guide |
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