Eisa
Powerful Dance and Exciting Drum Beat: Eisa
The rhythmic drums echoing through the summer night, the chanting of “eisa, eisa,” the lively sound of finger whistling, and energetic young people dancing without regard for the sweat pouring down are all signs of traditional Okinawan summer.
Traditional Eisa
Eisa is a dance performed on the last day of the Bon Festival (July 15 on the lunar calendar) for the repose of ancestors in Buddhist culture.
While beating on the drums, dancers move around the town dancing. Each region has a different dance routine and costume.
Modern Eisa
Based on traditional eisa, choreography and music are freely arranged for this new style.
There are such new styles of eisa group inside and outside of Okinawa, as well as overseas, helping eisa to spread as one of the Okinawan performing arts.