Living
Musical sights and sounds abound at Okinawan festival
Stars and Stripes
September 27, 2009
A member of one of about 35 Eisa Dance groups bangs his drum Sept. 13 during the 54th Annual All Okinawa Eisa Festival at Koza Sports Park, Okinawa. The event, more commonly known as the Orion Beer Festival, attracts huge numbers of attendees who enjoy drinking the local beer, eating local specialty foods and trying their skills at carnival-type games. (Matt Orr / S&S)
A member of one of about 35 Eisa Dance groups bangs his drum Sept. 13 during the 54th Annual All Okinawa Eisa Festival at Koza Sports Park, Okinawa. The event, more commonly known as the Orion Beer Festival, attracts huge numbers of attendees who enjoy drinking the local beer, eating local specialty foods and trying their skills at carnival-type games. (Matt Orr / S&S)
The festival is more commonly known as the Orion Beer Festival and attracts huge numbers of attendees that swarm the sports grounds to drink beer, eat local specialty foods, or try their hand at carnival type games at numerous vending tents throughout the complex. The festival was held Friday through Sunday. (Matt Orr / S&S)
A young boy warms up with his drum. (Matt Orr / S&S)
Eisa dancing, beer, carnival games and more dancing was a great reason to head down to Koza Sports Park, just a short walk from Kadena Air Base.
Sept. 11-13 marked the 54th Annual All Okinawa Eisa Festival, more commonly known to Okinawans and servicemembers as the Orion Beer Festival. Orion Beer is the hometown beer of Okinawans, and thirsty party-goers got their fill during the hot and humid weekend.
Over the three days, more than 30 Eisa Dance groups performed in colorful uniforms unique to the various municipalities.
Eisa is a traditional Japanese dance performed to the beat of taiko drums and sanshins, a three-stringed instrument. Eisa is commonly performed during Obon, a three-day holiday that honors ancestors’ spirits and offers them a safe journey back to the spiritual world.