The Nippon Domannaka Festival, commonly known as Domatsuri, is one of the most energetic and vibrant festivals in Japan.
It’s a multi-day festival held in Nagoya at the end of August, when the summer heat reaches its peak, and it fills the city and its surroundings with hundreds of Yosakoi dancers coming from all over the country and even abroad.
Curious already? Watch the performance of the winning team from Domatsuri 2019 here:
Yosakoi, a Modern-Traditional Japanese Summer Dance For Everyone
If you are not familiar with Japanese dances, you are probably wondering what Yosakoi dance is.
Yosakoi is a relatively new Japanese dance style that combines traditional movements from Japanese dances, like Awa Odori, with modern music. In Yosakoi, there are no rules! This dance style offers a lot of freedom for each team to create its own unique style.
Yosakoi’s roots go back to 1954, in Kochi Prefecture, on the southern island of Shikoku, when the Youth Group from the Kochi Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized the 1st Yosakoi Festival to bring a bit of joy to the population after WWII through dance.
| TIDBIT: Its name comes from Shikoku’s traditional Tosa dialect: 夜さ来い(Yo-Sa-Koi) which means “Come at night”. |
In Nagoya, Domatsuri began in 1999 with only 26 dance teams and a total of 1,500 dancers participating. By 2019, the festival already had more than 200 teams and more than 2 million spectators. This makes Domatsuri one of the largest summer events in Japan.
Yell, Sing, Smile, and Clap Together Celebrating the Love of Dance
The Domatsuri festival runs for three consecutive days, during which dance teams are judged and a winning team is announced on the last day during the final contest.
All the teams compete in performances at multiple venues set up around the city, including public parks, plazas, and temple grounds, with streets closed off to traffic for the occasion.
In Yosakoi, anyone can participate—men, women, and children of all ages. It’s not uncommon to see teams with members spanning from the young to the elderly. Teams vary greatly in size, from large groups with over 100 members to small teams with fewer than 10 people.
The only rules that apply are that dance teams must create costumes reflecting their local traditions and use Naruko, or small clappers, as part of their performance.
Domatsuri 2024
Since the 2020 edition, the Domatsuri has been held as a hybrid event, featuring a three-day live event in Nagoya in August and an online event later in November.
With multiple locations all across the city, you will have multiple chances of catching some Yosakoi for free during the three-day event. However, for the best experience, we recommend buying tickets for the stage performances, especially the finals. You can buy them here (Japanese only).
If you miss the summer event, there’s still a chance to catch the autumn edition. The first two days will be online, while the following two days will take place beyond the screen at Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (Moricoro Park). The online event will be live-streamed on YouTube and NikoNiko (Japanese only).
Nippon Domannaka Festival (にっぽんど真ん中祭り)
Date: 23rd to 25th of August, 2024 (Fri-Sun)
Time: 23rd: 4:30 pm – 9:00 pm; 24th and 25th: 9:00 am –9:00 pm
Location: all around the Sakae area. However, the main stage is located in the Edion Hisaya Plaza.
Website | YouTube | Niko Niko
This post was last updated in July 2024.
Although we strive to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, please note that changes may occur nonetheless. We recommend you confirm any relevant information such as event cancelations or changes, opening hours, or possible restrictions using a direct source. Please keep in mind that these sources might be only available in Japanese.
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