DONTAKU

During the Dontaku Festival, many people, young and old, parade through the streets in various costumes, some playing the shamisen or beating drums, others are clapping wooden spoons for scoping rice. The festival originates from the local custom dating back to the Heian period (13th century) , called 'toka' or 'matsubayashi,' during which the local people praised the feudal lord on the occasion of New Year. It is said that the upper class people of Hakata walked around the town on their way back from the castle. The word'Dontaku'comes from the Dutch word 'Zontag,' meaning holiday. The festival was first referred to as 'Dontaku' in the Meiji period (late 19th century) when the once-prohibited 'matsubayashi' was revived. Today it is celebrated as a citizens 'festival and many people from in and outside Fukuoka, including from overseas, get together on May 3rd and 4th to celebrate. The whole city eagerly awaits the start of one of the most exciting carnivals in Japan.

This colorful festival takes place on May 3 and 4 in the city of Fukuoka in northern Kyushu. The festival evolved from matsubayashi, a folk art widely performed in Kyoto during the Muromachi period (1333-1568). It was performed by farmers and townspeople as a form of New Year's greetings to the local landowner or leader. People dressed up as the three gods of good fortune and paraded to musical accompaniment. The "gods" were followed by young children, who danced to a special chant called iitate. The Hakata Dontaku elevated the traditional matsubayashi into a festive occasion, when people from all walks of life can meet and exchange greetings on an equal footing. Today, people from all over the country descend on Fukuoka for the festival, which coincides with Golden Week." It is one of the most popular destinations for vacationers during the holidays in western Japan.

In the Edo period (1603-1868), decorative floats and platforms showcasing dolls were added. The name of the festival was adopted around this time: it is believed to be derived from the Dutch word zondag (Sunday), which was taken to mean "holiday".

On May 3, a 1.2-kilometer stretch of a major thoroughfare is converted into "Dontaku Square," where a parade is held. Traditional matsubayashi is performed by over 12,000 people belonging to around 120 groups. Some of these groups use traditional Japanese instruments, while others perform the folk melody with brass instruments. A parade is also held on May 4. In addition, 16,000 dancers, singers, and other performers are featured on specially built stages in the city of Fukuoka. Closing out the two-day festival are rousing renditions of the Dontaku dance that spectators are invited to join and a gala display of fireworks.

Photos: Thousands of people take part in the festival parade. (Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce & Industry)

TOKYO DONTAKU

Japanese

PRONUNCIATION: TOH-kyoh dohn-TAH-koo

TRANSLATION: Bon Odori dance of Tokyo

SOURCE: Madelynne Greene learned this dance in Hawaii and taught it to folk dancers in the United States in the 1960s.

BACKGROUND: Tokyo Dontaku is a "Bon Odori" dance, a special dance of the O-Bon Festival in Japan. During the O-Bon, or Feast of the Dead, Buddhists throughout Japan honor the souls of their ancestors. In Tokyo, the festival is held during the third week of July. Sometimes called The Feast of Lanterns, the O-Bon is held at other times of the year in other parts of Japan. For instance, the festival is held at Nikko during the first week of August, at Nagasaki during the second week of August, and at Okinawa during the third week of August. It is also one of the largest festivals held on Sado Island. Thousands of lighted paper lanterns are launched on rivers and lakes to carry the ancestors' spirits (who had returned to earth during this time) back to heaven.

MUSIC: Express (45 rpm) E-212
Folk Dancer (45 rpm) MH-2050
Star (45 rpm) S-8414

Geisler, Richard. "Tokyo Dontaku" (sheet music), Village Dance Music from Around the World, The Village & Early Music Society, 15181 Ballantree Lane, Grass Valley, CA 95949-7633.

FORMATION: Cir of individual dancers facing CCW, hands at sides.

METER/RHYTHM: 4/4

STEPS/STYLE: Due to the restrictions of the kimono worn by the dancers, the steps are small. From long tradition, the steps are slightly pigeon-toed, and the knees are slightly bent and close together. The thumb is kept under the index finger, the fingers are kept together, and the hands and arms are moved gracefully.

MEAS MOVEMENT DESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION

1-8 No action.

THE DANCE

1 CEREMONIAL BOW: Facing and moving in LOD, step R fwd, lightly clapping hands in front of chest (ct 1); step L fwd, lightly clapping hands in front of chest (ct 3);

2 Step R, bending knee, while leaving L in place as hands are crossed in front of chest, palms down (ct 1); step back onto L as hands are swept down and out to sides (ct 2); step R next to L, clapping hands in front of chest (ct 3).

3 PADDLE BOAT: As if paddling a boat, step L moving both hands bwd along L side (ct 1); step R, moving both hands bwd along R side (ct 3).

4 LOOK IN MIRROR: Step L, bringing L hand in front of L ear with palm bwd as if pulling back the hair while R hand is extended fwd with palm fwd and fingers up as if looking into a mirror (ct 1); repeat action of ct 1 with opp ftwk and handwk (ct 2); repeat action of ct 1 (ct 3).

5 MAKE TREE: Step R with toe pointed outside, bending knees deeply, and with rounded arms, touch finger tips at knee level with palms up (ct 1); straightening knees, bring arms outward and up and, with rounded arms, and touch fingertips overhead with palms up as L heel is brought up behind to raise "kimono" off of floor, shin parallel to floor (ct 3);

6 Repeat action of meas 5 to ctr with opp ftwk.

7 HOLD SLEEVE: Stepping R,L,R, turn slowly to face out of cir while R hand is held at head level, palm bwd, and L hand is held under R elbow as if keeping "kimono sleeve" from swinging (cts 1,2,3);

8 Repeat action of meas 7 to ctr with opp ftwk and handwk.

Repeat entire dance from beg.