The Akita Daisen Nakasen Area Donpan Festival is a traditional Japanese festival held in the Nakasen area of Daisen City in Akita Prefecture, Japan. This lively and vibrant festival is celebrated in early August and is known for its unique and catchy “Donpan” song (Dompan-Bushi) and dance (Bon-odori), which are central to the festivities.
The first Dompan Festival was held on 10 September 1985 aiming for further promoting the Dompan-Bushi with 500 visitors and 200 dancers. Since then, the festival has been held annually.
Donpan Song (“Donpan Bushi”) is a folk song with a rhythmic beat that encourages dance (Bon-odori). Performers dressing in traditional costumes perform synchronized dances to the Donpan Bushi, creating a festive and energetic atmosphere. The highlight of the festival is that visitors and locals alike join in the dancing and they make a big circle and dance together, often accompanied by traditional instruments like taiko drums.
The Donpan Festival is a community-centric event that brings together people of all ages. It’s a time for locals to celebrate their cultural heritage, and visitors are warmly welcomed to join in the festivities. The festival is deeply rooted in the local culture and history of the Akita region. It reflects the traditional customs and festive spirit of the area, making it a significant event in the local calendar. Beyond the dance and music, the festival includes various other activities such as food stalls, games.
In the end of the festival, a fireworks display is scheduled. This festival is a wonderful opportunity to experience traditional Japanese culture in a rural setting, offering a glimpse into the local customs and the warmth of community celebrations.
Date: 16th August (Fri) 14:00- (Donpan dance start from 18:00)
Venue: Donpan square (Nakasen area of Daisen City, located in Akita Prefecture)
Access: Train 5 minute-walk from Ugonagano station by JR Tazawako-line
How to go to Daisen City from Tokyo: Take a Komachi train on the Tohoku shinkansen line to Kakunodate station. Then change to the JR Tazawako line and get off at Ugonagano station (the entire route takes less than 4 hours)
Website: The website is only in Japanese language, but it has videos of previous festival (dances, song, and fireworks).https://donpan.hana.jp/festival/