Colorful Sparrows Bring Life and Excitement to The Osaki Hachiman Shrine!
After a three-year hiatus due to covid, Hachiman’s signature event finally returns this year! Held for the first time in 2001, this festival, which takes place on the 11, 14, 15 & 18 of September, features various traditional and celebratory events. The most popular, is Sendai’s reknowned Suzume Odori (lit. Sparrow Dance), held on September 11. The sparrow is one of Sendai’s most iconic symbols and even appears on one of the Date family crests!
Suzume Odori has been passed down in Hachiman for generations and is believed to have evolved from an improvised dance, which was first performed at the feast held to celebrate the completion of Aoba Castle in 1603. Witnessing this local dance feels just like watching a sparrow’s elegant movements, from the small jumps that mimick the hopping of sparrows, to the graceful spinning and whirling of fans that remind the viewer of feathers. Suzume Odori is truly a sight to behold, performed in true matsuri style to the beat of drums, flutes, and cymbals.
Suzume Odori has been passed down in Hachiman for generations and is believed to have evolved from an improvised dance, which was first performed at the feast held to celebrate the completion of Aoba Castle in 1603. Witnessing this local dance feels just like watching a sparrow’s elegant movements, from the small jumps that mimick the hopping of sparrows, to the graceful spinning and whirling of fans that remind the viewer of feathers. Suzume Odori is truly a sight to behold, performed in true matsuri style to the beat of drums, flutes, and cymbals.
