Sado has a long history of cultivating its own distinct island culture while welcoming culture from outside the island. Locals carefully hand their treasured folk performing arts and traditional events down from generation to generation. Onidaiko, or ondeko (demon drum dance), is an exemplary traditional performing art that is unique to Sado. Performed at numerous festivals all over the island, this art form serves as a prayer for good harvests, large fishing hauls, and safe households in the coming year, and a ritual to drive evil spirits away from the village’s houses. This year during EC, Kami-yokoyama Seinen-kai (Kami-yokoyama Youth Association) will go door-to-door through the streets of Ogi, performing onidaiko in front of homes and shops in true festival style! The group will end its tour at Kisaki Shrine with a performance. Come and enjoy the festive fun!

Aug. 23 (Sun) 14:00–15:00

Start: Tennanso in Ogi Shopping Street Finish: Kisaki Shrine

Kami-yokoyama Seinen-kai This youth association preserves the Katagami-style onidaiko tradition of the Kami-yokoyama area of Ryotsu. During their local festival, performers spend an entire day traveling door-to-door, performing at every house throughout the village. A highlight of this style is the futari-odori (two-person dance), where a male demon dances and then passes the lead to a female demon. This soulful dance, typically performed at the local mayor’s house and other significant locales en route, is passed down to local children from a very young age.

Free event *Will be held rain or shine, but canceled if weather is stormy.