Tsushima Izuhara Bon Odori

Tsushima Izuhara is a Bon dance in which the local memory passed down through generations lives on in the lines of dancers and varied repertoire of each community.

About Tsushima Izuhara Bon Odori

The Tsushima Izuhara Bon Odori is a Bon dance honoring ancestors that has been passed down in several villages in Izuhara, Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture.

Unlike the circle dances common across Japan, it is performed by specific groups of men arranged in formation, at homes observing their first after a death or at designated locations within the villages.

A wide range of dances has been handed down, from ritual dances to lively dances with hand-held props, hand dances, and dances for entertainment.

Festival highlights

Highlights include distinctive Tsushima Bon Odori movements, such as a low stance, extending both hands at the same time, and the way dancers turn their wrists.

The tradition also includes prop dances performed with items such as ayatake bamboo sticks, and shikumi dances in which performers dance while acting out a story. Enjoy performances that differ from district to district.

Dances using red or purple coats and fans are also featured.

Source: 対馬の盆踊｜文化デジタルライブラリー / 対馬の伝統行事「対馬の盆踊」｜FNNプライムオンライン

Tsushima Izuhara Bon Odori: lines of dancers and traditional props

What to expect

The dances proceed to the music and repertoire passed down in each district, generally in two parallel lines.

The dances include ritual dances such as shūgen and odori, prop dances such as kasa odori and aya odori, and hand dances performed to kuchidoki chanting. The program varies by district.

It is performed at homes holding their first Obon since a family member’s death, or at designated locations within the community, to honor the ancestors.

Source: 国指定文化財等データベース

How to take part

The dancers are mainly young people in their teens and twenties. In the past, participation was limited to the eldest son of the main household in each village.

Some villages still restrict performers to the eldest son, and traditional conditions for participants vary by area.

Location and access

Venue and address: Held in the villages of Are, Kunehama, Naijin, Kuwa, Uchiyama, and Magari in Izuhara, Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture.

Address Are, Kunehama, Naijin, Kuwa, Uchiyama, and Magari, Izuhara, Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture

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Dates and season

It takes place during the Obon season, with different dates in each district.

Reports say that in 2026, it was held in Magari, Izuhara Town, on August 15.

Dates vary in other districts, so check each district’s information before visiting.

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写真：Ackeyyama / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Origins and History of Tsushima Izuhara Bon Odori

Tsushima Izuhara Bon Odori is believed to date back at least to the early modern period.

Its repertoire preserves a layering of ritual dances, furyū-style dances, hand dances, and dances for entertainment influenced by early modern kabuki, showing how Bon Odori has changed over time.

In 1997, it was selected as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property for which measures such as documentation should be undertaken.

Official information

Information about “Tsushima Bon Odori” is listed in Tsushima City’s cultural properties guide.

The Cultural Digital Library introduces Tsushima Bon Odori movements and dances, as well as the districts and dates where it is held.

Source: 文化財／対馬市