Yatsuo owara 八尾 おわら風の盆

Yatsuo once flourished as a tax office for the Toyama Domain. One artistic element that shows Yatsuo’s history is the Owara bon dance of the wind. The eleven districts within Yatsuo each present their own Owara bon dance performance for three days from September 1st.
かつて、富山藩の御納所として栄えた八尾。その歴史を物語るものの一つがおわら風の盆です。9月1日から3日間、旧町と呼ばれる11の町がそれぞれのおわらを織り成します。

Yatsuo once flourished as a tax office for the Toyama Domain. One artistic element that shows Yatsuo’s history is the Owara bon dance of the wind. The eleven districts within Yatsuo each present their own Owara bon dance performance for three days from September 1st.

History 歴史

Yatsuo thrived as a silk, washi (Japanese paper) and medicinal plant producing region. As a trading post, many people gathered here, forging an abundant town culture. In particular, the eleven districts competed against each other for the most elaborately designed hikiyama floats and unique bon dance styles. As a result, Yatsuo became known for entertainment. The origin of the Owara bon dance isn’t clear, but its characteristics were refined by talented geisha in the Japanese geisha district. Later on, the Owara bon dance was polished up by interested locals, becoming the fascinating and chic Owara performance of today

養蚕や和紙、薬草などの集積地として繁栄。交易の拠点として人も集まった八尾は豊かな町民文化を育みました。特に、八尾旧町では各町が意匠を凝らした曳山や個性あるおわらで競い合い、その結果、今なお人を魅了する芸能文化となったのです。おわらの起源は明確ではありませんが、文化的に成熟した八尾には芸事の達人が多くあり、その気風は花街の名妓によって洗練されていきました。その後も地元有志によって磨かれ、艶やかで粋な今日のおわらと成ったのです。

Four Seasons of Yatsuo written by Hōan Kosugi
「八尾四季」　小杉放庵 詠

Junji Kawasaki dedicated a massive amount of his money to popularizing the Owara bon dance and asked renowned writer, Hōan Kosugi, to write the song. This song, titled “New Owara” represents Owara bon dance culture.
おわらのために私財を投げ打った川崎順二が招いた小杉放庵の作。「新作おわら」としておわらを代表する唄となっています。

Spring春
ゆらぐつり橋 手に手をとりて 渡る井田川 オワラ 春の風
Walking hand in hand, across Idagawa River Spring wind of Owara sways the bridge

Summer夏
富山あたりか　あのともしびは とんで行きたや オワラ 灯とり虫
Gazing at the distant lights of Toyama The insects of Owara wish to gather

Autumn秋
八尾坂道 わかれてくれば つゆかしぐれか オワラ はらはらと
Parting in the hills of Yatsuo A mist or a light drizzle? The tears of Owara

Winter冬
もしやくるかと 窓押しあけて 見れば立山 オワラ 雪ばかり
Has my love returned? Pushing the windows open All I see is Tateyama Mountain and the infinite snow of Owara

Machinagashi Street Parade Histor
町流し

Machinagashi is a street parade where people perform the Owara bon dance with songs and music. This is the biggest feature of this dance and is performed by all eleven districts. We ask that you don’t interfere with the dance line, shout, or use flash photography when you are watching the performance.

唄と楽器を奏でる地方（じかた）の演奏に合わせ、町筋を踊り流す「町流し」。おわら最大の特徴であり、11の町が各町内で行っています。観る時は、踊りの列を遮らず大声や掛け声、カメラのフラッシュ撮影も厳禁です。

Distinctive Characteristics of the Eleven Districts
11の町の特徴

Each district has its own unique cotton kimono, or yukata for spectators to feast their eyes on. There is a pre-festival period that begins on August 20th before the actual festival starts in September. The dance steps are taught allowing you to join in too!

各町に唄や踊り、衣裳の個性があり、見比べるのもおわらの楽しみ方の一つ。9月の本番前には前夜祭（8/20～）が行われ、踊りの解説もあります。あなたも踊ってみませんか？

Suwa-machi
諏訪町

Suwa-machi has a main street that was selected as one of the hundred prominent paths in Japan, called Suwa-machi Hon-dori street. The young women wear a pale persimmon colored yukata with lyrics on the sleeves and waist.
「日本の道百選」に選ばれた諏訪町本通りが走る町。青年女子は、袂と胴部分に歌詞の染め抜きがある薄い柿色の浴衣です。

Higashi-mach
東町

This district used to be called Danna-machi, where many prominent people who made efforts to Owara’s development, were raised. The women’s yukata has a flamboyant gold, silver, and black checkered pattern sash belt.
おわら発展に尽力した名士を輩出し、かつては旦那町と呼ばれた町。華やかな金銀黒の市松模様帯の青年女子浴衣はこの町だけ。

Shita-shinmachi
下新町

The bright yukata color matches Hachiman shrine’s torii archway. This is the only women’s yukata that uses the primary color of red as a base color, which captures people’s attention.
八幡社の鳥居と色鮮やかな衣裳のマッチングが趣深いおわらに。唯一、原色の赤を地色とした女性浴衣がとても目を引きます。

Higashi-shinmachi
東新町

Higashi-shinmachi is located at the highest altitude among the eleven districts. The yukata for young women is pale orange on the sleeves and hem with written lyrics dyed in and a pattern of cranes.
旧町の中で最も高台にある町。青年女子の浴衣の袂と裾は薄い橙色。歌詞と囃子句を染め抜き、折り鶴の模様が散らしてあります。

Kami-shinmachi
上新町

広い道幅を最大限に利用した「大輪踊り」が名物。薄い鴇色（ときいろ）に格子模様の女性浴衣。全体に大きく歌詞が入っています。

Nishi-machi
西町

There are many remnants of Yatsuo’s thriving times, such as sake breweries and long-established Japanese inns. The young women’s yukata has tortoise-shell figures (a hexagonal pattern) at the hem.
造り酒屋や老舗の旅籠など、八尾繁栄の面影を多く残す町。青年女子の浴衣の裾には亀甲模様が散らしてあります。

Tenmancho
天満町

This district used to be called Kokubo-shinmachi, and their unique method of singing is called Kokubo Owara style. The young women’s yukata has unique patterns on the hem and a pale pink plum flower color.
かつて川窪新町と呼ばれた町で、「コクボおわら」と呼ばれる唄い方が特徴的。裾の模様と薄い紅梅色が特徴の青年女子の浴衣。

Nishi-shinmachi
西新町

Nishi-shinmachi is known for its brave male performers, dancing the Shinyashiki dance. The women’s yukata is a pale peony pattern with lyrics on the sleeves and hem.
勇壮な男踊り（通称しんやしき踊り）が有名な町。女性浴衣は艶やかな薄い牡丹色。袂と裾に歌詞が染め抜いてあります。

Kagami-machi
鏡町

Kagami-machi’s Owara style has a high reputation and is popular for its flamboyant Geisha style – it was previously a Geisha district. The women’s yukata has a cool cloud pattern with tie‐dyed fabric on the sleeves and at the hem.
花街だった当時を思わす芸妓風な艶と華やかさに定評があるおわらは人気です。袂と裾に絞り風の雲取り模様が入った女性浴衣が粋。

Ima-machi
今町

This district used to be called the middle town, Naka-machi, because it is located between the eastern and western districts. The women’s pale persimmon colored yukata has dyed lyrics on the sleeves and waist.
東西両町の中心にあり、かつては「中町」と呼ばれた町。薄い柿色の女性浴衣には、袂と胴に歌詞が染め抜いてあります。

Fukujima
福島

JR Etchū-Yatsuo Station is in this district. During the festival, the locals perform an Owara bon dance to see off passengers leaving on the first train of the day. These performers wear purplish cherry blossom colored yukata with ears of rice plants as a pattern and a bird on the hem.
JR越中八尾駅があり、風の盆期間中は、上下線の始発列車に「見送りおわら」を披露。藤色寄り桜色の女性浴衣の裾には稲穂と小鳥が。