A day of high-energy dance and music

A 90-member group from Japan, which has captivated audiences the world over, came to the City for the first time to present a high-energy music, dance and drama on the occasion of Japan Day. Supported by the Embassy of Japan and held at Siri Fort recently,  this event was aimed at expanding people-to-people exchange and cultural understanding between the two nations.

The day-long festival began with a traditional performance ‘Taiko’, meaning drum in Japanese. Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums. The performance followed a jo-ha-kyu meaning a beginning, middle, rapid, sudden, urgent, and emergency structure. The drum beating speed up significantly towards the end of the performance.

After ‘Taiko’ came ‘Yosakoi’, a  unique style of dance that originated in Japan as a modern rendition of Awa Odori, a traditional summer dance. This too was highly energetic, combining traditional Japanese dance movements with modern music. Yosakoi is also a popular event during the sports festivals in schools and colleges and its participants include men and women of almost all ages.

Next was Buyo which won the hearts of the audience. Buyo, meaning, dance is a
refined form of traditional Japanese dance which has evolved over four centuries. Dojo-sukui, a funny dance, where a performer pretends to catch eels in the muddy fields, was appreciated by the young audience and kids especially.

Mayank Jain of LPTI, who organised and sponsored the event said, “Last year, the ties between India and Japan completed 60 years. The Japan fest was a celebration of that relationship. It also aimed at familiarising Indian audience with Japan’s dance traditions.”