Yoron’s Jugo-ya Odori

Festival highlights

A highlight is the program’s alternating performances of Ryukyuan-style elegant dances and Yamato-style kyogen.

Dancers use fans or dance barehanded; performers also appear with their faces covered by cloth in “Shifa,” as well as wearing large masks made from bamboo and paper.

During the final “Rokuju-bushi,” spectators join the circle, and when the shamisen shifts to Rokucho, the performance moves into a scene with many people dancing.

Yoron’s Jugo-ya dedication performances, where Ryukyu and Yamato traditions resonate together

What to expect

On the day, the two groups gather at their respective seats, and the dances begin after the ritual.

First comes “Amitabōri,” a rain-prayer dance in which dancers proceed with flags, drums, shamisen, and other instruments. This is followed by alternating performances of the second group’s elegant dance and the first group’s kyogen.

The program closes with “Rokuju-bushi,” the Okidomari Song, and a procession out. The August event on the lunar calendar also features a lion dance and tug-of-war.

How to take part

The dances are mainly dedicated performances by performers from preservation associations and other groups who have inherited the tradition. However, during the final “Rokujū-bushi,” spectators can join the circle and dance.

At the event held in the eighth month of the old lunar calendar, the gathered people also take part in a tug-of-war.

For eligibility and recruitment information for performers taking part in the dedicated dances, check the details for each event.

Location and access

Venue and address

Kotohira Jinja and Jinushi Jinja (Shiro, Yoron Town, Oshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture).

The August Festival on September 25, 2026 was held around the ruins of Yoron Castle.

By car

About 10 minutes from Yoron Airport and about 10 minutes from Yoron Port.

Parking

At the August Festival on September 25, 2026, vehicles could not enter the venue, and visitors were advised to use a temporary parking lot or free shuttle bus.

Source: 与論十五夜踊り | イベント | 【公式】鹿児島県観光サイト かごしまの旅 / 🌾🌕【与論の十五夜踊 八月祭の開催について】 | ヨロン島観光ガイド

Address Shiro, Yoron Town, Oshima District, Kagoshima Prefecture

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Dates and season

It is usually held on the fifteenth day of the third, eighth, and tenth months of the lunar calendar.

The 2026 events are scheduled for May 1, September 25, and November 23.

Accommodation and hotels PR

Tips for your visit

For the August Festival on September 25, 2026, visitors were advised that vehicles could not enter the venue.

Some event dates require the use of a temporary parking lot or free shuttle bus, so if you are driving, please follow the instructions provided on the day.

Visitors are also warned that there will be many bicycles and children running around in the Chahana town center and elsewhere, so take extra care when driving nearby.

Nearby attractions

Nearby visitor information related to the venue includes Yoron Castle Ruins (Kotohira Shrine).

Tourism websites also list nearby attractions such as the Southern Cross Center, Yunnu Taikenkan, Yunnu Rakuen, Yoron Folk Village, Akasaki Coast and Akasaki Fishing Port, and Yurigasaki Beach.

If you plan to visit alongside the festival, check opening status and transportation options in advance.

Origins and History of Yoron’s Jugo-ya Odori

The Yoron's Jugo-ya Odori is said to have originated in Eiroku 4 (1561), when the lord of Yoron at the time had local, Ryukyuan, and Yamato performing arts studied and combined into a single art form.

As a result, mainland-style short plays and Yamato-style kyogen coexist in the same event with Ryukyuan-style hand dances and fan dances.

In 1993, it was designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, and a preservation society works to pass it on.

Official information

For dates, venue, and transportation information, see the Yoron Jugo-ya Odori listing on Kagoshima Prefecture’s tourism website, “Kagoshima no Tabi.”

Information on its origins as a cultural property and the content of its dedication performances is available in Kagoshima Prefecture’s regional traditional performing arts guide and the National Database of Designated Cultural Properties.

For inquiries, the listed contact is the Lifelong Learning Division of the Yoron Town Board of Education, at 0997-97-2441.

Yoron’s Jugo-ya Odori at a Glance

Yoron’s Jugo-ya Odori is a traditional performing art representative of Yoron Town, dedicated in prayers for peace across the island and abundant harvests.

Ryukyuan-style dances and Yamato-style kyogen are performed in alternation, alongside pieces featuring masks and drums; at the end, spectators join the dancing circle.

In 2026, it was scheduled for the fifteenth day of the third, eighth, and tenth months of the lunar calendar. The August event also featured a lion dance and tug-of-war.