Okinawan Bon Dance
What is Okinawan "Eisa" Bon Dance?
What is Eisa?
Eisa is a nenbutsu dance held on the last day of the Old Bon Festival (July 15th in the lunar calendar) to send off one's ancestors to the afterlife. Obon in Okinawa is celebrated over three days from July 13th to July 15th according to the lunar calendar, and is a very important event in Okinawa, where ancestor worship is strong.
The 13th is ``Unke'' (welcome), when we welcome the ancestral spirits by cleaning the Buddhist altar and preparing offerings. During Obon, people offer three meals and burn incense at Buddhist altars, and visit their relatives' homes where Buddhist altars are located. On the last day of Obon, the 15th, ``Ukui'' (Off-off), families and relatives send off their ancestors by offering a feast. Eisa is a lively dance performed all over the country to send off the ancestors.
Okinawan-Style Bon Dance
This year, there will be 3 Okinawan Bon dances included in the performance program on August 24. Please watch these YouTube videos for practice. Because we moved all of our items from Tian Beverage to Sangha's storage, we will not have our TV at next two practices on August 5 & 10. Please review these videos for practice.
Okinawa Bon Dance Practice YouTube Videos
1) Tenyo Bushi
https://youtu.be/2vbqUK02FQw?si=edTwjG9iLfE0_yv5
2) Nembutsu & Kudaka Manjyushu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHzk2iL5Fzs
Please note that we are skipping "Kudaka Manjushu" this year, only Nembutsu from this YouTube.
3) Ashibinaa
https://youtu.be/lOLqPUGBjH4?si=2CYzNbUUu0KuHAMx
Okinawan Bon Dance Background
We host the only Okinawa-style bon odori in Las Vegas, Nevada!
Background: Most of the hand and flag bon dances are based on the “Hawai‘i-style” choreography the instructor learned from videos from the Young Okinawans of Hawai‘i (YOH), with minor changes. The choreography for “Asadoya Yunta” was created by Yoshino Majikina, which was adopted by the Southern District Obon Odori of the Buddhist Churches of America in 2001. The song “Ashibinaa” was choreographed by the OAA Geino-bu Performing Arts Committee.
Our taiko version of Bon dances are also available during practice sessions! Please let us know if you are interested!
Let's Get Ready! Easy and Friendly Songs!
To help you prepare, we are sharing some practice videos (prepared by Okinawa Association of America) for the songs that will be danced at the Obon Festival. All of the songs are very repetitive and will be led by experienced dancers in the inner circle, so just follow along and have fun!
Practice Schedule: For those who want in-person instruction, please join us for our bon odori practices (schedule varies year-to-year). Please check the schedule below in this page. Please contact if you have any questions or for more information: lasvegasokinawakenjinkai@gmail.com, 702-350-2689
2024 Okinawan Eisa, Obon Dance Practice Schedule
Okinawan Obon Dance, Eisa
Okinawan Obon Dance Practice Schedule (Everyone is welcome! No membership is required/ No RSVP required - Open to friends, family members and community members. This is a club-wide Okinawan Obon dance practice! Please join us to keep the Okinawan and Japanese tradition going and pass down our cultural heritage to our children and future generations together while experiencing and learning the Okinawan culture! It's a friendly song to Children, seniors, friends, family members and everyone is welcome!
- July 15, Mon / 2 pm - 3 pm
- July 27, Sat / 1 pm - 3 pm
- August 5, Mon / 2 pm - 3 pm
- August 10, Sat / 1 pm - 3 pm
Location: Okinawan Community Center Address: 5240 S Decatur Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89118
2024 Okinawan Eisa, Obon Dance
Okinawan Obon Dance, Eisa
Eisa is a Okinawan tradition for ancestors held during the Bon Festival on Lunar calendar. In Okinawa, every year during the Obon season, young people from the area parade through the village while dancing Eisa (Michi-Juneh), and perform the ritual to pray for the health of each family, the safety and prosperity of their families, and to pray for the spirits of their ancestors.
エイサーとは旧盆に行われる先祖供養の伝統行事です。 沖縄では毎年旧盆になると、その地域の青年たちがエイサーを踊りながら集落内を練り歩き（道ジュネー）、各家の無病息災や家内安全、繁盛を祈って、先祖の霊を供養するために行われています。