A fantastical Bonbori dance using real candles. Kameyama's traditional ``Toodori'' is revived at the KameyamaCity Summer Festival held for the first time in four years.

1. What is “Toodori”?

"Tou Odori" is a traditional Kameyama dance that has continued since 1957.

It is characterized by dancing while holding a lit candle, a bonbori, which is a local industry in Kameyama.
Since ancient times, men and women of all ages have enjoyed lantern dancing with bonbori in hand at summer festivals held during the Obon period.

Since 2019, KameyamaCity Summer Festival has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but with the reopening for the first time in four years on August 11, 2023, the light dance has also been revived.

Bonbori of the light dance

The bonbori used in the Toodori festival not only uses electric lights such as LED lights, but also some that use liquid candles that are lit with real flames.
The liquid candle is designed so that the liquid will not drip even if you tilt it slightly, so you can safely hold the candle while dancing.

The beautiful flickering of the lights inside the bonbori can be enjoyed precisely because the candles are lit.

History of light dance

Provided by KameyamaCity: Summer party in front of Kameyama Station Photos from 1957 onwards

The Toodori dance started when the manager of an Ito bento shop in front of Kameyama Station came up with a dance with a candle as a motif, and based on that, he devised a dance in which dancers held bonbori holding candles. Ta.
Since then, Toodori has been passed down for nearly 70 years at KameyamaCity Summer Summer Festival and Bon Odori dances in various districts of KameyamaCity.

If you look at photos from the Showa era, the bonbori in your hand looks like a streak of light, and it looks very magical.
This is a beautiful shot that can only be achieved by the light dance.

light dance music

The lantern dance is performed to two songs: ``Kameyama Ondo'' and ``Kameyama Kouta.''
It seems that around 1957, when Todo-odori was born, two other songs, ``Kameyama Ondo'' and ``Kameyama Kouta,'' were also created around the same time.

The lyrics of both songs incorporate the unique scenery of Kameyama and the changing seasons.
Looking at the lyrics, you can feel the interesting points of view that were unique to the Showa era when the song was created, and the charm of Kameyama's scenery that can be enjoyed even in the Reiwa era.
It might be a good idea to find a spot you're interested in from the lyrics and visit it to learn about new charms of Kameyama.

2. Lantern dance revived at KameyamaCity Summer Festival

Interview with Ryoko Niwa from “Uchida School of Jukokai”

We spoke to Yoshiko Niwa of the Uchida-ryu Juko-kai about the revival of Tobo-odori after a four-year hiatus.

Mr. Niwa started getting involved in the Toodori dance around 1978-1979.
Since then, he has been involved in preserving and passing on the Tobo-odori culture as a member of the Tobo-odori Preservation Society, which was established in 1985.

Niwa: ``The Todo-odori, which has been going on since the Showa era, has been canceled since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic.Until it is decided that it will be revived this year, every year, even when summer approaches, people will say, ``There is no Tobo-odori.'' ''I felt lonely.At the same time as I felt lonely, I also felt a strong desire to preserve the tomato dance as a traditional performing art of Kameyama.''

Mr. Niwa teaches Japanese dance as well as Bon dances from all over the country, such as Todo-odori, as part of the Japanese dance association ``Uchida-ryu Juko-kai''.
Since the decision was made to restart the light dance, the company has been working with KameyamaCity to provide choreography instruction to local children and to distribute YouTube videos of the choreography.

Niwa: ``The children participated happily in the practice with bonbori in hand.It was impressive to see them looking forward to the day of the summer festival, saying, ``I'm looking forward to dancing in yukata.''

``I've been involved in teaching Bon dances in many places around the country, and I think dancing with a bonbori is rare even in Japan,'' Niwa says.

The motto of the ``Light Dance Preservation Society'' is ``Light in your heart.''
At the main event of the summer festival, ``Citizens' All-Odori'', the KameyamaCity held Bonbori in their hands and were smiling and enjoying the lantern dance, as if their hearts were lit just as the slogan said.

The appeal of Toboodori is that it can be enjoyed not only by the dancers but also by the viewers.
Mr. Niwa also tells us how viewers can enjoy the dance, saying, ``Since it is danced during dark hours, the sight of countless bonbori lights floating and flickering is very magical.Just watching it is soothing.'' Ta.

Toboodori is a summer tradition that has been passed down by KameyamaCity and members of the Toboodori Preservation Society.
Through Mr. Niwa's story, I was able to deeply understand its charm.

``Bamboo Akari'' where you can enjoy 1,000 lights

There was also a bamboo light display at this year's KameyamaCity Summer Festival.
The bamboo lights on display were a comprehensive production by IgaCity 's Kana Area, which has a history of displaying at IseJingu, IseShimaSummit, and other venues both domestically and internationally.
Approximately 1,000 "bamboo lights" were shining brightly and it was an amazing sight!

Each piece of bamboo has fine carvings, and even when you look at it up close, it's mesmerizingly beautiful.
Candles were used for the lights, and the flickering of the candle flame created a nice effect that highlighted the beauty of the bamboo light.

In addition to the bamboo lights made by Kana Elia, there were also bamboo lanterns made by 180 second-year students from Kameyama Junior High School.
Each piece is unique and you will never get tired of looking at it.
It was also impressive to see the middle school students who created the bamboo lanterns happily talking in front of the bamboo lanterns, saying, "This is the one I made!"

There are many other attractions!

There are many other attractions at KameyamaCity Summer Festival besides the lantern dance and bamboo lights!
Various programs were held at the main venue.

In the "Kids Bon Odori" program, children performed lively dances on stage.
The children and adults who came to watch the festival enjoyed dancing together around the stage♪

KameyamaCity 's local performing art, Kuzuha Daiko, was also performed.
The powerful drum performance echoed throughout the park!

In addition to the light dance, there was also a Bon dance program with classic songs♪
The lawn square of Kameyama Park is filled with people enjoying the Bon dance.

In addition to Bon dances, drum performances, and dances, there were many food stalls lined up throughout Kameyama Park, and live music events were held on a sub-stage set up in the park, making KameyamaCity Summer Festival a huge success.
I’m looking forward to next year’s event!