Iwate

Mention the name, ‘Sansa,’ and many people will inevitably think of the character Sansa Stark from, ‘Game of Thrones.’ The word, ‘Sansa,’ in Morioka, however, is all about dancing and the annual festival. The Morioka Sansa Odori Festival is held every summer in August from 1-4 and is one of the major festivals in Tohoku. With over 10,000 taiko drummers, it is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest taiko drum festival in the world. Local schools, businesses, and organizations form groups of dancers, drummers, and musicians to take part in the event. Practice begins as early as late May, and for the next few months, the dance is fine-tuned for the event. The dance celebrates the legend of a demon who was terrorizing the locals and who was punished by the god of Mitsuishi Shrine. The demon pledged that he would stop and swore his oath by placing his hand on a large rock. The imprint of his hand can still be seen today at Mitsuishi Shrine and of course, the name, ‘Iwate,’ is comprised of two kanji, the first meaning rock (岩)and the second meaning hand (手). The parade is held on Chuodori and runs for…