Each year at the peak of summer, the streets of downtown Sakata City fill with hundreds of dancers for a night of live dancing to Sakata Jinku, the traditional folk song of this lovely port city.  

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This dance celebrates the golden age of Sakata City back when it was a major port for trade between the Tohoku Region and the rest of Japan.  Participants dance in a large circle through the downtown area for a total of four times over the course of two and a half hours.  

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Take a look at this festival in the highlights video below!

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Quick Info:

The date of this dance festival varies slightly but is always held on the first Friday of August right before the Sakata Firework Festival .  

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Please contact us if you would like to double check.  

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Visitors are highly encouraged to join this dance festival!  The same dance is repeated 4 times and is easy to follow and copy.  

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Feel free to step into the dance line during one of the breaks.  

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This festival is held right in the downtown area next to the Shimizuya Department Store.  

A wide view of the hundreds of participants!

Taiko drum performers 

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