Numerous festivals are held throughout Kurashiki City from summer through autumn.
Among them, the Mizushima Port Festival, held in Mizushima, is a lively festival where you can enjoy energetic yosakoi dancing. A total of 35 teams from across western Japan take part, including local yosakoi teams from Mizushima.
In November, as the festival season was drawing to a close, I visited the Mizushima Port Festival to shake off the chill in the air.
Here’s a report on a day when yosakoi filled me with energy.
The information presented here was accurate when this article was published in December 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What Is the Mizushima Port Festival?
The 68th Mizushima Port Festival was held on Saturday, November 23, 2024.
It is also known as “Mizushima Yosakoi,” and, as the name suggests, it is a festival where you can see yosakoi teams gathered from across western Japan all in one place.
The history of the Mizushima Port Festival began with a fireworks display held at Mizushima Port in 1956.
The festival’s main attractions have changed over time. After events such as folk performing arts parades and Mizushima Ondo, “Mizushima Yosakoi” began in 2019. Today, the festival is held to revitalize the Mizushima community and promote yosakoi culture.
A total of 35 teams from inside and outside the prefecture took part in the yosakoi performances. Check the image below to see the participating teams.
The venue also had food truck and food stall areas, with local Mizushima restaurants taking part. It’s a festival where you can enjoy food and yosakoi all day long.
A Report from the Day
On Saturday, November 23, 2024, I headed to the venue with a friend.
There were five free parking lots near the venue, and I parked at Mizushima Junior High School. The lot had space for 150 cars, but it was almost full by 1 p.m., so going early may have been the right call.
Amazed by the Power of Yosakoi, Seen Live for the First Time
The yosakoi performance venues were divided into three main areas: Mizushima Shopping Street, Yosakoi Odori Avenue, and Hachiken River Street.
First, I headed to Hachiken River Street, the closest area to Mizushima Junior High School. As soon as I got out of the car, I could hear yosakoi music.
My heart raced at the sight of live yosakoi for the first time.
The colorful costumes caught my eye, worn by “Hanamai Onibachi,” a yosakoi team based in Okayama City.
The yosakoi dancing to powerful music filled me with energy. The lively calls made me sway along without even realizing it.
From umbrellas and lanterns to headbands and waist cords, the accessories and decorations are clearly chosen with care, making them a joy to watch.
After the first song, the performers changed costumes right there. The yosakoi dancers put on haori jackets bearing the character “鬼” (“demon”), creating a different atmosphere and a new appeal.
At the end of the line, a large flag bearing the team’s name waved in the air.
The flag was impressive in both size and height. The person carrying it swung it around with ease, but it must have been heavy. I’d be worried about hitting a utility pole or sign, so I don’t think I could swing it around so boldly.
The next team to perform was “Mizushin & Kojike High School.” This was apparently the first time Mizushima Shinkin Bank and Kojike High School had participated together as a team.
At first, the performers looked a little nervous, but as the dance went on, their cheerful calls rang out. They were the kind of team that made you want to cheer, “So cool!” and “Wonderful!”
Many of the spectators seemed to be family members, and the performance had a particularly warm atmosphere.
Freshly Made, Piping-Hot Food to Enjoy in the Chilly Weather
The venue had food truck and food stall areas, bustling with people. As I walked around, I passed yosakoi participants who seemed to be taking a break, and the contrast with their energetic performances was striking.
After looking around the stalls, I bought the spicy mixed noodles from “Men Yatai Umashi,” a rare treat for me.
It seems to be a shop run by Hasegawa Men Kobo Umashi, a noodle workshop in Okayama City, which sets up at events. You can enjoy carefully crafted Chinese-style noodles.
The chewy noodles were satisfying, and their freshly boiled, springy texture was irresistible. Freshly made noodle dishes are a welcome treat at events in chilly weather.
I still had room, so I shared soy-garlic chicken from “Morinoko Cafe,” which had caught my eye with its long line, with my friend.
It’s served freshly fried, so the chicken is piping hot with a crispy coating. It also came with potatoes and tteokbokki, making for a generous portion. Its sweet-and-salty flavor made me want to order a drink.
At the dining area I stopped by, the Self-Defense Forces had a truck on display. Children could even try on Self-Defense Forces uniforms, and families were having a great time.
Most people have few opportunities to encounter the activities of the Self-Defense Forces in everyday life. It seemed like it would be a special memory for the children.
Yosakoi performances were held on Mizushima Shopping Street, at the center of the food stall and food truck areas.
The team the writer happened to catch was the popular team “Honiya,” which came from Kochi, the home of yosakoi. Honiya has won awards at festivals across Japan and gave a performance full of confidence.
The dancers’ enjoyment was so infectious that even the spectators watching were smiling. Their perfectly synchronized dancing and cheerful expressions held my attention for several minutes.
Take a break while watching the stage
A stage had been set up in the center of the venue.
Chairs and tables were also available, so visitors could sit and take a break while watching yosakoi. It was striking to see older people relaxing and enjoying yosakoi as they chatted.
There was also a performance by local Mizushima’s Kozakura Nursery School, and it was heartwarming to see the children doing their best to dance yosakoi. It made me think that this is how yosakoi culture is passed on to the next generation.
Since I could sit and watch yosakoi, I took a break and had a snack.
There were so many dessert vendors that, after much deliberation, I picked up chai and scones from “T’s CLOVER.” “T’s CLOVER,” which has an office in Mizushima, was a business I had been curious about after seeing it at events around Kurashiki City several times.
There were four kinds of chai. I chose a spicy, robust chai, while my friend chose apple rum. They went perfectly with the sweet, moist scones.
Being able to enjoy delicious local food is one of the things that makes festivals special.
Yosakoi by local Mizushima’s “Honiya Kurashiki”
At dusk, the yosakoi performance by “Honiya Kurashiki,” the team I had been looking forward to most, began.
Honiya Kurashiki is a team that embodies Mizushima Yosakoi. Their performance began as a large crowd of spectators watched warmly.
Their yosakoi was bursting with energy, and watching them made me feel excited and happy, too. Their crisp, synchronized choreography was also a pleasure to watch.
At first, I watched the children dancing behind the adults and thought they were “cute,” but their confident, impressive yosakoi changed my reaction to “That’s so cool!”
Honiya Kurashiki, a team representing Mizushima, finished its performance surrounded by a large crowd of spectators right to the end.
The sight of them dancing yosakoi with the setting sun behind them was striking and very cool.
Their role in bringing excitement to Mizushima Yosakoi made me want to support their future activities, too.
From the Writer
I watched yosakoi for the first time at the Mizushima Port Festival.
Each team had its own music and choreography, and you could see the care they put into their costumes and props. It felt like a real treat to see so many distinctive yosakoi performances all at once.
I was also struck by the number of local participating teams, including “Honiya Kurashiki,” “Mizushin & Kojike High School,” and “Kozakura Nursery School.” These teams brought the kind of excitement unique to Mizushima Yosakoi.
I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of yosakoi performances I’ll encounter at next year’s Mizushima Port Festival.
68th Mizushima Port Festival Information
| Name | 68th Mizushima Port Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, November 23, 2024 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. |
| Location | Mizushima Shopping Street, Yosakoi Odori, and Hachiken River Street |
| Website | Mizushima Port Festival |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a search term to find articles on this site
