In mid-January, on a magnificently sunny and warm day in Kochi Prefecture, I had the honor of viewing a bright pocket of soulful creativity at Yamamomo Kobo, a workshop and gallery run by the Kumon family. They craft naruko, small wooden clappers that bring the electrifying energy of Yosakoi—a dazzling summer dance festival in Kochi—to life. From varieties like single-sided to flower naruko, the Kumon family produces around 13,000 sets every year, which are shipped to locations across Japan and around the world.
Seated in a cozy enclosed terrace, with their rescue cat, Shiro-chan, jumping on and off the table and brushing up against my legs, I was privy to a conversation about the excitement of Yosakoi and the essential role naruko play in the performance.
The origin of Yosakoi
You may have seen Yosakoi at many summer festivals across Japan. Although it began in Kochi, it has since spread throughout the country and around the world (in perfectly inclusive Kochi style, I might add). Yosakoi was created in 1954 as a way to revitalize the local economy after World War II. It was actually inspired by the graceful and elegant Awa Odori dance from neighboring Tokushima Prefecture.
Much like the breathtaking surprise of rounding a bend on Kochi’s highways to find the Niyodo River shimmering in crystal-clear emerald hues, or the sudden parting of clouds revealing snow-capped peaks in the distance, the unexpected energy of Yosakoi never fails to delight me. Unlike the more reserved Bon Odori dance, Yosakoi blends tradition with modern flair—bursting with bright smiles, dynamic movements, and intricately designed costumes that showcase Kochi’s spirited charm.
Although Yosakoi’s unique style allows participants to create their own choreography and costumes, there are a few essential rules—one of which is the use of the beautiful naruko, crafted by designers like the Kumon family. Teams must also incorporate the original song Yosakoi Naruko Odori and showcase their creativity through both choreography and vibrantly colored costumes.
Since its inception, Yosakoi has grown into a national and international movement, with festivals held in cities like Sapporo and Tokyo, as well as beyond Japan. More than just a dance, Yosakoi is a celebration of energy, community, and cultural fusion—blending folk music with jazz, rock, and pop influences, all punctuated by the rhythmic “clack” of naruko.
From rice fields to dance floors: The evolution of naruko
Today, naruko are inseparable from the energy of Yosakoi, but did you know they were originally used to scare birds away from rice fields? Neither did I! I noticed the Chinese character for “bird” (鳥) in naruko (鳴子), which helps me remember the very literal, grassroots beginnings of these iconic instruments.
Exploring Yamamomo Kobo’s gallery
Misako Kumon greeted me in her spacious garden and immediately pointed the way to their Naruko Gallery. Out of the sun, the interior was crisp, but I was soon fully warmed by the bursting color and bold designs of Yamamomo’s naruko. Misako-san could tell the story of every single one on display. Each piece was carefully designed, and I was especially delighted to see the “International Series,” which showcased the flags of nations around the world. Even in that small gallery, Kochi’s expansive view of the world was unmistakable. To me, those naruko also symbolized Kochi’s ingenuity and its constant drive to create something fresh and new.
Misako-san told me of how Yosakoi splashed on to the international stage in the 1970s when Kochi’s team was invited to participate in a samba carnival in Nice, France. Mr. Kumon was among the young dancers selected for the trip, and despite the yen being at 360 to the US dollar, everyone eagerly seized the opportunity. Rather than simply performing the usual Yosakoi dance, however, the team’s leader at the time saw it as a chance to push the art form further. Mr. Kumon recalls the thinking: “Hey, if we really want to stand out, we need to create something never seen before—not just perform the same old Yosakoi!” Since then, everything about Yosakoi—the costumes, colors, naruko, dance moves, music, and participants—has continued to evolve. And with each passing year, more and more people from around the world are joining in on the fun.
Kochi‘s ever-evolving spirit
“Did you know that the minute the Yosakoi Festival ends, the first thing on everyone’s mind is next year’s performance? We immediately start thinking about how we can make it even more energetic and cool!” This was a comment I often heard when the topic of the festival came up. Kochi people seem to have a healthy sense of “impatience” with the norm, always searching for something new, better, and cooler.
Maybe that’s why Kochi is one of the places in Japan where, as an international visitor, I feel most welcome.
The catchphrase I saw on t-shirts and elsewhere in Kochi is “Kochi-ke,” which literally means “Kochi family.” Perhaps it’s the long tradition of osettai from the Shikoku Pilgrimage, where locals offer help and hospitality to travelers, but people in Kochi always greet visitors with a smile. Here, I feel like part of the Kochi family and a tradition of seeking change and new ways to evolve. Now that’s my kind of place!
In fact, Japanese composer Esaku Takemasa, who played a pivotal role in creating the Yosakoi dance, was himself an open-minded innovator, eager to share his creation with the world. He is the one who composed the song Yosakoi Naruko Odori, which ingeniously combines elements from three traditional tunes: Yosakoi-bushi (a local folk song), Yocchore (a children’s song), and Jinma-mo (another folk song from Kochi). Takemasa-san demonstrated his generous spirit by releasing the copyright of Yosakoi Naruko Odori into the public domain. Now, Yosakoi performers are free to adapt and evolve the music.
Shed the rules and join in the dance!
A hallmark of Yosakoi is its lack of overbearing rules and strict traditions, making it inclusive and fun for all. Yosakoi teams have popped up around the world, and enthusiasm for the style has grown so much in Japan that one festival—held each October in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, as part of the Fukuro Matsuri—now features around 100 Yosakoi dance teams, making it the largest Yosakoi event outside of Kochi.
The Yosakoi Festival in Kochi, the birthplace of Yosakoi, takes place every year from August 9th to 12th. During these four days, the entire city bursts to life with music, colorful costumes, and high-energy performances. One day, I would love to make this festival the centerpiece of a big adventure to Shikoku Island. In fact, I might just put it on my calendar right now! But I won’t forget—Kochi gets HOT in the summer. A perfect excuse to stock up on some of that funky body-cooling merch I always see in Japanese drugstores.
There are many Yosakoi-related videos out there, but I particularly like this one:
Thanks to the hospitality and extensive knowledge of the Kumon family, I was able to understand just a little more about how naruko and Yosakoi contribute to the absolutely unique, amazingly colorful, and genuinely warm-hearted masterpiece that is Kochi Prefecture.
