Text / Compiled and reported by the MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network Editorial Department
The renowned "Ookaga Lion Dance × Drum Group" from Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, will perform at the 2014 Taipei Dadaocheng Music & Fireworks Festival by invitation of the Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau. Additionally,Starting August 1, they will perform for three consecutive days at Xiangdi Plaza in Xinyi District, Songshan Ciyun Temple, Songshan Railway Station, Taipei Underground Mall, Taipei Railway Station, Dadaocheng Wharf, East District Underground Mall, and Ximending, bringing to audiences vibrant and highly impactful lion and drum performances.
The Taipei Dadaocheng Music & Fireworks Festival has invited the famous Japanese "Ookaga Lion Dance X Drum Group" to perform in Taiwan. (Photo provided / Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The "Ookaga Lion Dance × Drum Group" from Matsuyama City, Japan, will perform on the main stage of the 2014 Taipei Dadaocheng Music & Fireworks Festival on August 2,It is expected that at 5 p.m. they will team up exclusively with the hugely popular YOYO Family from Eastern TV for a joint performance, guaranteeing massive attention. In addition to the main stage at Gate 4, starting at 4 p.m. on the same day, they will also perform a street parade between Gates 3 and 5 of Dadaocheng, interacting with the public and celebrating Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine’s Day) together with Taiwanese people. Among them, the single taiko drummer, Kōichi Norimatsu, also hopes to find his other half through this love-filled fireworks festival. The Ehime Prefecture and Matsuyama City will also set up two tourism promotion booths at the festival venue, offering limited-edition souvenirs to attendees, and Ehime Prefecture’s mascot, “Mikan Dog,” will make an appearance. The public is welcome to visit their booth.
The "Ookaga Lion Dance X Drum Group" will perform at various locations around Taipei from August 1–3. (Photo provided / Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
Additionally, the Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau stated that due to the exceptional quality of the "Ookaga Lion Dance × Drum Group" performances, to allow more people to enjoy their show, a special first public performance in Taiwan has been arranged for 8 p.m. on August 1 (Friday) at Xiangdi Plaza in Xinyi District’s Shin Kong Mitsukoshi.On August 2 (Saturday), they will perform in the morning at Songshan Ciyun Temple and Songshan Railway Station, in the afternoon at Taipei Underground Mall, Taipei Railway Station, and Dadaocheng Wharf; on August 3 (Sunday), performances will be held in the afternoon at East District Underground Mall and Ximending, and in the evening at the Beitou Hot Spring area, another Taipei hotspot, allowing the public to experience these lively and powerful lion and drum shows.
The "Ookaga Lion Dance × Drum Group" from Matsuyama City, Japan, consists of 13 drummers, 2 lions, and 2 flag bearers. (Photo provided / Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
The "Ookaga Lion Dance × Drum Group" originates from Ookaga Town, located on the northwest coast of Matsuyama Airport in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It is one of the few performance groups that combines the powerful Ookaga Lion Dance with the vigorous Japanese taiko drumming. The Ookaga Lion Dance includes two routines — "Dancing in the Fields" and "Dancing in the Mountains." Unlike the typically slow-paced traditional lion dances in Japan, this version is more lively and even a bit wild.
This highly energetic "Ookaga Lion Dance × Drum Group" is made up of six families who train together before major performances, aiming to deliver the most exciting show possible to audiences. Additionally, the group leader, Takashige Murakami, is said to have the top taiko drumming skills in Ehime, possibly even in all of Japan. It is believed that this vibrant performance brought by Matsuyama City, Japan, will offer audiences a uniquely powerful experience.
The "Ookaga Lion Dance × Drum Group" from Matsuyama City, Japan, is composed of multiple family members. (Photo provided / Taipei City Tourism Bureau)
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