Official
Experience interpreting for foreigners at "Tsukuda Island Bon Dance"
On Tsukuda Island, Bon Odori, designated as Intangible Folk Cultural Property in Tokyo, was held during the old Bon Festival from August 13 to 15. The organizer asked me to provide an interpreter to introduce Bon Odori to foreigners visiting, so I participated on August 13. Recently, foreigners have become more well-known, so the number of foreigners who participated in the Bon Dance held for two and a half hours was about 20. Some people participated alone, but most of them were group participation with 3 to 4 people. I have interpreted four groups, including individuals. (Because photography was not allowed, the photos attached to this blog were taken by the staff of the tourist association.)
The stage of Bon Odori
The Bon Odori tower was set up at Tsukuda 1-chome near Tsukuda Kobashi. At 18:30, which is getting dark, Bon Odori for children began and ended in 30 minutes. After the event, "sweet tickets" were distributed to the children. (It was not possible to exchange on the day, and it was after the 16th. Even though it is for children, it will be difficult for people who do not live on Tsukuda Island, such as tourists, to return to Japan, so I personally thought it would be even better if it could be exchanged for sweets on the day. )
A dance for adults began at 19:30 after a break, and ended at 21:00.
Although it was a dance with little movement, I was sweaty because the hot and humid weather continued to the end even in the evening.
For French parents and children living on Tsukuda Island ...
Contact with a French parent and child living in an apartment on Tsukuda Island. He was a technician who knew the origin of Tsukuda Island after seeing the thirty-six views of Hokusai's Tomigoku "Tsukuda Island", and took notes explaining the origin of Bon Odori on Tsukuda Island. Here are some of my interests:
1) It is said that the dance was derived from the Nanba dance.
Even before the Edo period, "Nanba walk", which does not shake hands back and forth, has become popular in Japan. The basics of walking around Nanba are the left leg. → The right leg is later.
2) There is also a theory that the awkward dance performed by a samurai who was injured in the war (Ikusa) became the basis of this Bon Odori. I feel like I can understand it.
It is surprising to show that Portuguese and Dutch people who came to Japan during the Azuchi-Momoyama period also walked in Nanba in Japan with old paintings.
In addition, there is a problem of dressing in kimono, but it can be convinced that it occurs because you do not walk (cannot do) Nanba. "Because the kimono is matched to the left front, it is natural that the hem will be disturbed unless you walk repeatedly from the left leg to the right foot."
Spanish dance on a Spanish dance ride!
The man in the photo is an American, but he seems to have come interested in Tsukuda's Bon Odori, which is different from ordinary Bon Odori. I don't have any pictures, but I immediately danced to two Spanish women who interpreted after Americans in a picture that illustrates the basics of Buddhist prayer dance.
You are from the country of Spanish dance.
Despite the increased popularity of Bon Odori on Tsukuda Island, I felt that it was still difficult for ordinary overseas travelers to visit. I thought that it would be more effective to inform people who knew the speciality of Tsukuda Island and the specificity of Bon Odori while introducing them online. Also, at the moment, visitors felt that they could interpret on the premise that they knew Tsukuda's dance.
Since this activity was my first attempt, I responded with my own thoughts, and explained the origins of Tsukuda Island, the origins of Buddhist prayer dance, and the basics of how to dance. If I have the opportunity to participate next year or later, I would like to take a similar approach.