What kind of festival is the "Okinawa Zenjima Eisa Festival"?

Eisa" is Okinawa's Bon dance, a traditional performing art performed on the night of the lunar Bon Festival. The male dancers beat drums and dance heroically to the light sounds of sanshin (three-stringed instruments) and lyrical songs, while the female dancers, dressed in knee-length kasuri (cloth with a kimono pattern), perform a graceful dance. There are various theories as to the origin of the dance, and some say that it was introduced by Taichu Shonin, a priest of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism, more than 400 years ago. The custom has been passed down from generation to generation in various parts of Okinawa as an important ceremony to send off ancestors to the other world on the last day of the lunar Bon festival.

The Okinawa Zenjima Eisa Festival began in 1956 in Koza City (now Koza, Okinawa City) as the "Zenjima Eisa Contest. Aiming to win the contest, each youth association began to devise new techniques and costumes, and women's hand dance was also added. Today, the festival is no longer a contest, but a popular festival where selected eisa groups from all over the main island of Okinawa perform traditional or elaborate dances. The festival is held annually at the Koza Athletic Park Athletic Stadium in Okinawa City on the first weekend after the end of the Lunar Bon Festival, and attracts more than 300,000 people over the three days.

What are the dates and viewing areas for the 2025 festival?

Photo: Okinawa Zenshima Eisa Festival Executive Committee" />

The 2025 event will be held over three days from Friday, September 12 to Sunday, September 14.
On the first night, "Michijune" will be held, in which eisa groups parade along Gate Street (Prefectural Route 20). 18 groups will participate, including fixed performance sites along Gate Street. The attraction of this event is that it is close to the original form of eisa, in which people parade along the road while dancing, and it is also an opportunity to see performances, music, and facial expressions from a close distance. Both the roadside and fixed performance sites are free to visit.

On the middle day, the venue is moved to the Koza Athletic Park Athletic Field in Okinawa City, where the Okinawa City Youth Festival is held, featuring an eisa performance by the Okinawa City Youth Association. On the final day, groups from all over Okinawa will perform a brilliant and well-coordinated performance. On the middle and final day, admission to the lawn area around the performance site is free, but reserved seats with a fee are available at the main stand, where you can look over the entire venue.

Event Schedule for the 70th Okinawa Zenjima Eisa Festival in 2025

Ticket prices

There is no charge for children. No charge for children under elementary school age who are seated on the lap of a parent or guardian.

Ticket sales
Okinawa City Tourism and Product Promotion Association (Koza Music Town 1F)
Okinawa City Koza Athletic Park Athletic Field
FamilyMart e-plus (e-plus)

For ticket inquiries
TEL: 098-989-5566 (Okinawa City Tourism and Products Promotion Association)

Tidbits about Eisa, which consists of various performers

Eisa is usually performed by dozens of men and women dancing in formation around a "jikata" or "ji-ute" who play the sanshin and sing Okinawan folk songs, and an "udaiko" or "udaiko" (large drum).
The "o-daiko" plays an important role of leading the entire performance while holding the drum and performing dynamically. Other types of drums include the shime-daiko, which is smaller than the o-daiko, and the parangku, a hand-held drum with leather stretched over only one side, each with a different pitch. The shimedaiko is lighter and easier to move than the shimedaiko, but it also features acrobatic movements that involve large movements of the entire body, and is called the flower of the performance. The parranku is lighter than the shimedaiko, so it is often used in eisa by children's groups, but eisa that mainly consists of parranku has been handed down in the former Yonagusuku Town and the former Katsuren Town (both in present-day Uruma City).
The male dancers perform a powerful dance called ikigamoi, and the female dancers perform a graceful dance called inagamoi. The other dancers include "Hatagashira," who dance with a 3- to 4-meter-high flag, and "Sanaja-" and "Chondara-" who paint their faces white and enliven the audience with their comical dances.

What are the highlights of the festival and how to enjoy it?

There are many ways to enjoy eisa, but the main attractions are the rhythmic and powerful overlapping sounds of the big drums, shimedaiko, and parangku, the performers' brilliant handling of the bachi, and their dynamic dancing in sync with the songs and music. The overwhelming performance is so impressive that it is uplifting just to watch it.
The basic composition of the groups is fixed, but in recent years, various formations have been created, and each group has its own individuality, whether it values tradition or pursues a new way of attracting the audience. Some groups use not only Okinawan folk songs, but also Okinawan songs and pop music, and you can enjoy the differences between them.
The flags carried by the hatagashira and the costumes of the performers are also designed differently depending on the group, so you will never get tired of watching them.

Photo: Okinawa Zenshima Eisa Festival Executive Committee" />

On September 13 (Sat.) and 14 (Sun.), the "Orion Beer Fest" will be held on the sub grounds adjacent to the main venue, so those who like to drink are recommended to watch the eisa performance with a beer in hand.

Orion Beer Fest 2025 in Koza

Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, 2025, 15:30 - 21:00
Koza Athletic Park Sub-Ground, Okinawa City

Finale is "Kachaasi" and fireworks display

Photo: Okinawa Zenshima Eisa Festival Executive Committee" />

On the final day, "Kachaasi" will begin after all groups have finished their performances. Kachaasi means "stirring" in the Okinawan language, and is an impromptu dance performed at the end of celebrations and banquets in Okinawa. People of all ages enjoy raising their arms high and swinging them flexibly from side to side to the sound of the up-tempo sanshin (three-stringed instrument). The performers of each eisa group, as well as the audience, join the performers on the ground where the main festival takes place, creating a truly mixed atmosphere. After the dancing, a laser show with laser beams and trick fireworks, followed by a fireworks display, marks the finale of the three-day festival.

Allow plenty of time to get to the venue.

Since this is the largest eisa event in Okinawa, traffic congestion is expected during the festival, and traffic regulations will be enforced around the festival site. Parking is available at the festival site (advance sales only), but the number of cars is limited, so if you are driving, such as renting a car, use the temporary parking lots in Okinawa City or take the free shuttle buses. If you use public transportation, use local buses and allow plenty of time to get to the venue.

Traffic regulations during the festival
For details, check the official website.

September 12 (Friday) 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. (scheduled)
Route 330 near Huoya Crossroads, Koza Gate Street, Naka-machi Naka-dori Street

September 13 (Saturday) and 14 (Sunday), 20:30-22:00 scheduled
Ground Street connecting Route 330 and the Koza Athletic Park Track & Field Stadium, Okinawa City

On September 13 and 14, temporary parking will be available at Okinawa City Hall, Okinawa City Farmers' Training Center, and Awase Fishing Port from 1:30pm to 11pm.
In addition, free shuttle buses will be available
(1) In front of Okinawa City Hall
(2) In front of Okinawa City Library
(3) Okinawa City Farmers' Training Center
(4) Awase Fishing Port
(5) AEON MALL Okinawa Lycoming
(5) AEON MALL Okinawa Lycam (5) AEON MALL Okinawa Lycam

The buses will run from 13:30 to 20:00 from each depot to the venue,
from each depot to the venue, and from the venue to each depot from 2:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Bus route
Nearest bus stop: Sonoda bus stop. Approx. 10 min. on foot.