Gujo Odori 2024

Gujo Odori (郡上おどり) and Gujo Bushi (郡上節) are traditional Bon dances held in Gujo Hachiman, a town in Gifu Prefecture, specifically in the former Gujo District, commonly known as Gujo Hachiman. It is considered one of the three major Bon dances and one of the three major folk songs (Gujo Bushi) in Japan. The festival takes place for 32 nights from mid-July to early September, with a highlight being the all-night dancing during the Bon Odori festival, attracting tens of thousands of dancers from across the country.

 

Origin:

The roots of Gujo Odori are believed to trace back to medieval dances known as “Nembutsu Odori” and “Furyu Odori.” The formalization of the Bon dance format is attributed to the encouragement of the lords of Gujo. It is said that during the Edo period, the first lord of Gujo, Yoshitaka Endo, promoted the dance for the camaraderie of his subjects. Another story suggests that during the mid-Edo period (1758 onwards), Lord Aoyama encouraged the dance to promote reconciliation after a peasant uprising (the Ho-reki Disturbance). The exact origin remains uncertain.

 

 

 

 

Event Summary

Yawata-cho, Gujo City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan

Period
Held for 32 nights every year from mid-July to early September, tens of thousands of dancers from all over the country come to the festival, especially for the all-night dance of Urabon festival.

Official Web：Click Here