"Nishimonai Bon Odori" in Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture, which is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of the country, was canceled last year due to the influence of the new corona virus, but this is two years with no audience. It was held for the first time, and the dancers performed an elegant dance.

"Nishimonai Bon Odori" is a bon festival event in Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture, which is said to have a history of more than 700 years, and is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of the country.



Last year it was canceled due to the influence of the new corona, but this time the three-day holding period was shortened to only the night of the 16th, and the main street venue was not filled with spectators, and the roadside was blindfolded with a height of about 2 meters. It was surrounded by.



At the venue, the dancers dressed in costumes called "Hanui", which are made by sewing colorful strips together, and while covering their faces with knitted pods and hoods, they performed an elegant dance to the musical accompaniment. Did.



The dancers danced in a circle around the bonfire with a memorial service for their ancestors and a prayer for a good harvest, and the venue was surrounded by a fantastic atmosphere.



A third grade girl who participated in the Bon Odori said, "I was lonely because there was no audience, but it was fun to be able to dance together."



Seiichi Sugawara, chairman of the executive committee that hosted the event, said, "I was afraid that the event would be held, but I am glad that it was held. It is an important event left by my predecessor, so I would like to take responsibility for inheriting it."