Lantern Dance Festival

About this event

This is a festival for the local performing art "Terakata Chochin Odori" (Lantern Dance), which has been passed down since the Edo period in the former Minami-Terakata area of Moriguchi City. While its exact origins are unclear, it is said that it was already actively danced during the Bunka and Bunsei eras (1804–1830). It is thought to have originally evolved from a Bon dance to comfort spirits during Urabon (July 13–16 of the lunar calendar). Accompanied by drum rhythms set to Kawachi Ondo, the unique dance performed with a lantern in one hand is rare nationwide. According to one theory, it is said to have begun as a victory dance for a peasant uprising or to commemorate the virtues of village headman Kizaemon. In the past, it was transmitted only to one child per generation and kept strictly secret from outsiders, but after World War II, a preservation society was formed and opened its doors to both men and women to pass it on to future generations. In recent years, the event date was changed to September to avoid extreme heat, and it is held at Moriguchi Station Front Square. On the day of the event, food trucks and festival stalls will be open from morning, creating a lively atmosphere. This dance still carries on a form of Bon dance not seen in other areas of Moriguchi City, and as an extremely valuable local performing art showing regional characteristics, it was designated as the city's Intangible Folk Cultural Property (No. 1) in December 2000 (Heisei 12).

Venue

Canadian Square (Hito no Hiroba)

8-1 Kawaramachi, Moriguchi, Osaka 570-0038