Yosakoi Festival: The Free and Powerful Dance Festival That Kochi is Proud of

Yosakoi Festival: Kochi's Summer Festival Full of Freedom and Vitality

The "Yosakoi Festival" held in Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, from August 9–12 every year is a relatively new festival that began in 1954. Based on "Yosakoi Naruko Dance," it is characterized by a style where teams compete with their own choreography, costumes, and production, known nationwide as one of Shikoku's Three Great Festivals.

Yosakoi Rules

Yosakoi rules are simple: ① Using the "Yosakoi Naruko Dance" melody as a base, ② All dancers holding "naruko" (wood instruments like castanets), ③ Moving forward. With just these three rules, everything else is free. Costumes, music, and choreography are left to each team's ingenuity.

National Spread

The spirit of yosakoi has spread nationwide, with "yosakoi-style" festivals being born throughout the country including Hokkaido's "YOSAKOI Soran Festival" and Nagoya's "Domatsuri." As participatory festivals, citizens, companies, schools, and others actively participate.

Yosakoi Venues and Viewing

"Kyoen-jo" (competition venues) are set up throughout Kochi city, with paid seats and free viewing areas. Evening performances are particularly fantastical, with the brilliance of lighting and costumes captivating spectators.

Access

Accessible from JR Kochi Station on foot or by streetcar. Early hotel reservations during the festival period are essential.

📚 Sources

The Yosakoi Festival introduced in this article, its start in 1954, the basic rule of dancing with naruko clappers in hand, teams dancing through the competition and performance venues in the city, and the jikatasha lead vehicle that guides each team are organized based on festival information published by Kochi City, the Kochi City tourism association and the Yosakoi Festival Promotion Association, and information from the prefectural tourism and convention association. Descriptions such as music based on the Tosa folk song Yosakoi-bushi also draw on public information. Because the schedule, venues and access may change by year, please confirm official information before you visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Time estimate: A few hours to enjoy a favorite team at one venue, or a full day to tour multiple venues for the full experience.
• What to prepare: As a midsummer outdoor event, frequent hydration and heat measures such as a hat are essential. Wear comfortable shoes to tour several venues.
• Best timing: It is held every year from August 9 to 12. The eve festival, fireworks, main days and after-festival bustle day after day, and the whole town turns Yosakoi-colored.
• Suggested route: From JR Kochi Station, tour the performance venues on foot or by tram and enjoy your favorite teams performances up close. Combine with Kochi Castle and Hirome Market to savor the Tosa summer.