Hanagasa Ondo

Hanagasa Ondo (花笠音頭, flower straw-hat song) is a folk song from Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.^[1] It accompanies a local community dance called the "Hanagasa Odori (花笠踊り).^[2]

The song is in typical swung ondo rhythm, and features a kakegoe found in no other song; "Ha Yassho Makkasho!" The dance is performed with a simple straw hat decorated with synthetic flowers. It is usually performed by women, but men can also join in. The dance movements are different for each gender.

Excerpt from Hanagasa Ondo

Japanese:

Oraga zaisho ni

kite miyashanse

kome no CHOI CHOI! (kakegoe)

naruki ga ojigi suru

Ha Yassho! Makkasho! Shan Shan Shan!

English translation:

Oh come here and see

The heads of rice have matured

And bow low with fruit

(kakegoe)

In popular culture

Hanagasa Ondo plays when the lid of the Gyukakuni ekiben is lifted.

References

^ Hughes, David Weirick (1986). The Heart's Home Town: Traditional Folk Song in Modern Japan. University of Michigan. p. 309.
^ "What is the Hanagasa Festival?". Yamagata Hanagasa Festival. January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.

[1] Hughes, David Weirick (1986). The Heart's Home Town: Traditional Folk Song in Modern Japan. University of Michigan. p. 309.

[2] "What is the Hanagasa Festival?". Yamagata Hanagasa Festival. January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.

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