The Outline of the Dance
They dance in a long and narrow circle 500m from east to west, Ondo-dai (Chorus platform) at its center. They move in the clockwise direction. There are 8 types of dances, and they dance 7 types among them repeating some of them suitably.
The distribution of the types of dances (Nembutu Dancing of Mizukubo)
They dance the night away in a slow tempo.
There are two types of dances, Te-odori (Dance empty handed) and Ougi-odori (Dance with a fan in your hand). There are 3 tunes in Te-odori, and 4 tunes in Sensu-odori (Ougi-odori). In Sensu Odori, all the dancers hold “Odori Sensu (Dance Fan)” in their hands as Torimono (something to hold in one’s hand). A dance that they hold a fan in their hand is distributed all over Japan. The meaning might be the same as that of the round fan. The way they hold their fans is characteristic. In case of Te-Odori, they wear the fans in obi (belt).
*There is an atmosphere of Japanese dancing in the materialization of the choreography of the dance
*The name of the tune is named after the first word of the lyric of each song.
After the dance begins, you have to keep dancing until the next morning.
You can witness the old type of Bon Dancing that proceeds with the dialogue of the chorus leader and the dancers.
It’s a touching event.
In the late at night, the number of the people declines, and the circle of the dance becomes smaller. Is this how things are?
In the daybreak, surprising number (hundreds?) of people come along. Where did all these people come from?
1.Sukuisa
When the Bon Dancing starts, they always dance this “Sukuisa” in the beginning.
The word “sukuisa” found in the lyric “Hidarukerya koso Sukuisa kitani” indicates a facility for relief in case of famine, according to Kunio Yanagita. From this fact, it is considered that the memory of calming the spirit of those who died from famine at the time is left in Bon Dancing.
How to dance
Ougi Odori
Song
Representative lyric
“Hidarukerya koso sukuisa kitani tanto tamoreyo hitosukui”
2.Takai yama (A high mountain)
The lyric of “Takai yama kara (From the high mountain)” is a lyric of a Kouta that became very popular in the Middle Ages, and it is distributed and remains all over Japan. Also from this lyric, we can see the fact that Bon Dancing of Niino has been adopting many songs and dances during the Middle Ages and early stage of modern times.
How to dance
A simple Te-odori
Song
A taakaai yama kara (sore) tanizoko miirebayoo
A uuriya naasuubiino (sore) hana zaakaaridayoo
Representative lyrics
“Takai yamakara tanizoko mireba uriya nasubino hanazakari (If you see the bottom of a ravine from the high mountain, the gourds and eggplants are in full bloom.)”
“Gyouja yamakara Niinowo mireba hitowa maruiga tawa sikaku (When an ascetic sees Niino from the mountain, the people are well-rounded but the rice fields are square)”
“Matsuni naritaya tougeno matsuni nobori kudarino kyakuwo matsu (I want to be a pine tree, a pine tree that grows on the highest point on a mountain road, waiting for the visitors coming up and down)”
“Matsuto iu jiwa kihen ni kimiyo kimini kiga nakya matsuja nai (The letter “matsu (pine tree)”is composed of letters “ki (tree)”and “kimi (gentleman)”. If a gentleman is not with a tree, it is not a pine tree.)
3. Juroku (Sixteen)
How to dance
Te-odori
Song
Representative lyric
“Nebane juroku naraitakya gozare kin no shi goryou mo motegozare”
4. Ondo
How to dance
Ougi Odori
Song
Representative lyric
“Ondo torukono koenara hoshiya fukayama narashino semino koe”
5.Osama Jinku
“Osama Jinku”includes valuable information that hands down the beginning of Niino Bon Dancing. The lyric: “Osama Jinkuwa dokokara hayota Sanshu Furikusa Shimodakara”, shows that Niino Bon Dancing was originally handed down orally from Furikusa Region of Mikawanokuni (Aichi Prefecture)
How to dance
Ougi Odori
Song
Basic Pattern
“A Osama Jinkuwa dokokara hayota Sanshu Furikusa Shimodakara”
Representative lyric
“Osama Jinkuwa dokokara hayota Sanshu Furikusa Shimodakara”
“Sanshu Furikusano imodengakuwa oyamo saseruga komo saseru”
6.Oyama
How to dance
Ougi Odori
Song
Representative lyric
“Oyama kau kane watashini okure (Give me the money to buy Oyama)”
“Washiga Oymano daiwo suru”
7. Noto
This dance is regarded as the most important one among Niino Bon Dancing.
In old Bon Dancing, they sometimes dance a special tune in the final stage of the dance “to send the spirits off”. “Noto” is a representative one among these dances and it is danced only once a year in the occasion of “Odori kami okuri (A dance to send the gods off)” A small group of young men and women dance the fast-moving dance.
How to dance
This dance is Te Odori. Stand firm and hold out the fist. The shout is masculine and sounds strong. They show fight to prepare for the important event of the final dance to send the god off.
Song
Representative lyric
“Notoe Notoeto kusakimo nabiku Notowa kusakino honmotoda” (The plants wave to the direction of Noto. Noto is the originator of the plants.)
“Notono saba urya itsu kyoue noboru asatcha Gionno atoya saki”