44th Sawauchi Jinku National Contest

About this event

A national contest for the traditional folk song "Sawauchi Jinku," passed down for generations in Nishiwaga Town, Iwate Prefecture, will be held. In this competition, singers gathered from across the country will showcase their skills across three divisions: Boys and Girls Division, Oyone Cup Division, and Senior Division. On the day of the contest, singing and dancing performances by the local Sawauchi Folk Song Preservation Society and Nishiwaga Folk Song Club are also scheduled, allowing attendees to experience the traditional culture of Nishiwaga. Furthermore, this year at "Towari Soba no Mise Yume Plaza" in front of JR Hottoyuda Station, a special menu item named "Oyone Soba" will be served exclusively on the day of the contest, limited to 30 portions. This "Oyone Soba" set includes cold soba topped with wild vegetables featuring Nishiwaga's specialty "Nishi-warabi" bracken and an abundance of mountain blessings, alongside an egoma miso rice ball, blanched Nishi-warabi, and pickles, allowing guests to taste and feel Nishiwaga's living food culture. It will be a day to savor the charms of Sawauchi through both song and cuisine. Deriving from the tale of Oyone, a local village maiden who is said to have saved her village during the Great Tenpo Famine, Sawauchi Jinku is a rare folk song in Japan that blends the joy of harvest with sorrow. This contest is held to reaffirm Sawauchi Jinku as a wonderful local treasure of Nishiwaga, aiming for its preservation, transmission to future generations, and further development.

Venue

Nishiwaga Town Culture Creation Hall Ginga Hall

195-2, 39 Jiwari, Uenono, Nishiwaga-machi, Waga-gun, Iwate 029-5511