Post date: 2023.09.29
The heat that came back after 4 years! The 70th Yosakoi Festival Part 2: Report on the sunny stage of dancing girl
The long-awaited 70th Yosakoi Festival was held from August 9 to 12, 2023. This time, we reported on the sunny stage of the two dancing girls pursued by the interview team. I will tell you with the enthusiasm of the festival that enveloped the city of Kochi.
Contents
Just before the show, how excited is it?
The 2023 Yosakoi Festival in Kochi has been waiting for not only locals but also fans from all over Japan who like festivals. There was concern that Typhoon No. 6 would be held close to the Japanese Islands, but it was held safely throughout the four days, including the eve festival on August 9th, the 10th and 11th, the national convention and the late night festival on August 12th.
(Photo left: Tama-chan photo right: Suzu-chan)
First, I would like to introduce the dancing girl that the interview team followed. Suzu-chan who participates for the first time in 10 years and Tama-chan who participates for the first time. Please refer to this page for more information.
The last time I met was a month ago. I visited the final practice on August 8 to meet the two people who said, "I'll keep up."
Ahead of production, everyone in dancing girl has unprecedented high tension! The face shines brightly, and the dance of each person is completely finished.
On this day, advance practice was repeated to align the columns and parallels. In addition, detailed instructions will be sent from team representative Reho Sawamura, saying, "Go up your eyes" and "Adjust the pose". I danced over and over again, and finally, "Everyone is beautiful!" "It's very cool," Mr. Sawamura smiled. "The formation was also clean. Let's do our best for the production!", And the practice for about two months ended.
“It was a lot of fun to practice from June. After practicing four times a week, I think you could be healthy. When we move forward, the energetic child of the team members makes a loud voice behind us and gives us power. There are many children who have become friends through practice, and I want to dance well with all the members in the production."
Tama-chan “The practice was bigger than ‘hard’. I felt like I was working hard for Yosakoi (laughs). At first I participated, my body was tough, but I got used to it because of my physical strength. The performance is exciting, but everyone is expecting it, so I will do my best!”
And they both said, “I hope you can dance happily. I want to win medals!” he said.
Finally!
Yosakoi Festival is held every year from August 9th to 12th. The schedule is as follows.
August 9
eve festival: Last year’s award-winning team performed at Central Park
August 10 and 11
Yosakoi Festival production: All participating teams perform at each theater competition venue
August 12
National Convention: The award-winning team of that year and teams entered from all over the country (outside Kochi Prefecture) competed.
Late Night Festival: The award-winning team of that year will perform.
Suzu-chan and Tama-chan's team "Yobuko Shopping Street" will appear on August 10. On the first day, they both seem a little nervous.
"I'm glad the rain stopped. Enjoy and dance.”
“I feel like it’s finally started. I will do my best!"
dancing girl and all over the city. The heat of the festival envelops Kochi.
Started a performance at the Saenba competition venue set up in the Saenba shopping street about 300m. During the festival, the dance will be performed by closing the road where the performance is performed.
It will be a valuable experience for both the dancing girl and the audience.
We will be watched by the customers lined up in the arcade of the shopping district and show the results of the practice. Both of them showed beautiful performances that were nervous to the tip of their fingers. There is also a shout from the arcade, "Go for it."
Since the distance from the customer is close, it seems that the voice reached Suzu-chan, of course. When it was over, I heard a voice of support. It will be encouraging. He said with a smile, “I will try to do it today.”
Tama-chan, who participated for the first time, said, "I was thrilled before it started, but I'm going to cheer up!" With a voice of "I've got the tension MAX! The first dance was fun,” he said.
(* Flamming ... At the Yosakoi Festival, a microphone performer called Flamming excites dancing girl and audience.)
After that, he moved to another theater competition venue and performed a dance. After dancing at the 550m Obiyacho performance hall, the longest in the theater arcade, they both sweated "It was long and hard!" Still, Suzu-chan said, "I was glad that many customers raised the fan and watched it. It was easy to dance!” She said, “Adrenaline is out! Before the Obiyacho dance began, I was tired, but when I danced, I was healed!" Said the enthusiasm.
In addition, Suzu-chan gets the "Flower Medal" which is a longing for dancing girl and others at the Odemusuji headquarters competition venue that danced just before that! The Flower Medal is the highest medal awarded to dancing girl, full of smiles and energy from veteran judges, and a lot of practice and actual dance were highly evaluated. Tama-chan seemed to be inspired, "I will do my best to get a medal tomorrow." Hope you both have a smile tomorrow!
Performed on the stage of Central Park. I gave a lot of excitement to the audience and received applause.
Day 2 of production
The 11th of the second day of the Yosakoi Festival. The tension seems to have blown away by dancing on the 10th with Suzu-chan and Tama-chan. With the power of our adrenaline and other dancing girl-sans, we enjoyed this day with all our strength and delivered a smile to the audience.
And Tama-chan, who said the day before, "Tomorrow is a medal," got a wonderful medal. Both of them achieve their goals.
The weather was unstable during the Yosakoi period, but it was the spirit of the dancing girl and others who blew it off. Sometimes it was raining, but more than 10,000 people from the dancing girl who participated showed the results of their daily practice with a smile throughout the day and excited the city of Kochi.
At the end, it was exciting with the masterpiece "So-odori", and Suzu-chan and Tama-chan's Yosakoi Festival reached its finale this year.
How did you dance for two days?
“It was fun. And thank you for letting me dance first. I think I was able to get a medal that was my goal, and I was able to dance with a smile.”
Tama-chan, it was fun! On the first day, I felt uneasy, but today the feeling of “want to dance” was winning. It’s like the summer of 2023 is over.”
Did you get help from everyone in the team?
Suzu-chan "I can't experience this sense of accomplishment at the Yosakoi Festival alone. I think it was good for this team to be one with everyone in the team. It was really good to participate.”
“Glad to be able to dance with a good team! It was a really enjoyable experience.”
Two months of practice and great success in the production, both of them were tired. Thank you for the excitement and energy!
For those who have no experience in Yosakoi dance, there may be resistance to practice until they get used to it and dance in public, but surely Tama-chan will get power from teammates and spectators like Suzu-chan, If you finish, you will be glad to participate.
I hope that many people will be able to participate next year.
List of Winning Teams
Finally, I would like to introduce the winning teams of the 2023 Yosakoi Festival.
Yosakoi Grand Prize
Torakuyosakoi (Chifure)
Gold Prize
Tenninju Aya
Honiya
Asahi Shokuhin
Silver Prize
Hamachoka Kagura, DD Yosakoi Team, TACYON
Special Jury Prize
Inan, Obiya-machisuji, Daruma
District Competition Federation Encouragement Award
Tawaraya Group, Matsuriya Yosakoi dancing girl Corps, Kamimachi Yosakoi Naruko Ren, au, Yonden Group, Shikoku Bank, Manzai Shopping Street, Kokushi Maiso, Ohashi Street dancing girl Corps, Kochi Shinkin Bank, Zokkon Machida ’98, Yosakoi Team Takacho
Local Vehicle Encouragement Award of District Competition Federation
DD Yosakoi Team, Shichifuku Yosakoi Rensai, Yusuhara
Please look forward to the 71st Yosakoi Festival next year.
