Sado is the island of Ondeko(鬼太鼓) or demon dance with taiko(Japanese drum).
Demon masks waiting to be worn by ondeko performers. Are they cool? Or scary?
Ondeko is one of Sado's sacred shrine rituals usually performed at shrine festivals in spring or autumn.
It is said that there are about 120 villages with their own ondeko performances.
But they are generally categorized in 5 styles.
The main stage of "Ondeko.com".
On this day, there are more than 20 performances, which means you can enjoy about 1/5 of all Sado ondeko performances in a single day without going around Sado Island!
Here comes "Burikatsu-kun", Sado's mascot charactor.
Actually, he is a "yellowtail cutlet"! Sado is blessed with abundant sea product and yellow tail is one of them.
Also, "burikatu bowl" is becoming Sado's local speciality.
Not only the main stage but also in other parts of the venue, you can see performances up close.
One of the ondeko styles includes a pair of lions mingled together.
Kids ondeko performers!
Wearing a little bigger demon mask, he is now a guradian messenger of the god and performs dynamically to pray for an
abundant harvest in autumn and well-being of the visiters and islanders.
For children, it's the happiest memory to be chosen ondeko performers.
On his back, you can see sacred paper strings decoration called "mizuhiki". It is said it wards off evil spirits.
It's wonderful to care about such details, so Japanese!
You can enjoy performances sitting on chairs and eating food from food stands.
This is one of my favorites, Ogura ondeko. Four demons (usually 8) perform together.
Young woman disguised as a demon and dance!
Men, women, children, all perform ondeko in Sado!
It is said that miners in Sado gold and silver mine started to dance with chisels and hammers in their hands in tunnels to pray for an abundant output of gold and silver and their safty to the God in charge of mining during the Edo period, hundreds of years ago.
That is why this "ondeko performance" is unique to Sado Island.
Local high school students...
Their performances always draw many visitors.
They are performing "Sado Okesa" loca; folk dance. They belong to a club to perform traditional local performing arts.
Your first step to get to know Sado is to see ”鬼太鼓”.
Ondeko Dorm, the venue is a walking distance from Ryotsu port.
Please immerse yourself into ondeko and you may perform it in your dream??