U-maku Eisa Shinka Indonesia

EISA is a form of folk dance from Southern Japan (Okinawa) using traditional percussion accompanied by joyous shouts. Known for its powerful and dynamic motions that derive from Karate, it designed to honor ancestors during the Obon season in July-August. Nowadays, it could be performed anytime and anywhere as the appreciation of Okinawan culture.

The specific feature of eisa is dancing and shouting energetically while playing percussion so called Taiko. TAIKO that played in eisa consist of large-barrel shaped drum (ODAIKO), medium-sized laced drum (SHIMEDAIKO), and small single-head drum (PARANKU). Those taiko completed with a drum stick (BACHI). Odaiko is carried using the shoulder belt whereas shimedaiko and paranku are held with left hands. The performance is also accompanied by Okinawan traditional three strings music instrument (SANSHIN). There are two types of eisa: traditional and modern. Each has its own characteristic.

Eisa flourishes not only in Okinawa, but also throughout Japan and other parts of the world. In 1995, Moromizato Seinenkai, a traditional Eisa group from Okinawa, performed in one Japanese Festival event at Jakarta, Indonesia. Ms. Fukuhara Yuko, then a linguistic student at University of Indonesia now living in Okinawa, was in charge of an Odaiko and some paranku that they donated after the show. Those Eisa properties then become U-maku Eisa Shinka’s very first instruments. U-Maku Eisa Shinka Indonesia itself was established on November 9th 2002 by some Indonesian people who fond of Okinawan culture with Ms. Fukuhara Yuko as the group’s advisor. At this moment, U-maku Eisa Shinka is the first and only eisa group in Indonesia.

Besides maintaining the link to Moromizato Seinenkai, which also known as one of Youth Associations in Okinawa City, U-maku Eisa Shinka also seeks the chance to get more knowledge about eisa. In mid 2006, the group learned Eisa under Kajimaai, a Modern Eisa group, and performed with them in Ichimannin Festival at Kokusai Dori Naha. In addition to that, U-Maku Eisa Shinka also likes to share its knowledge to the society by carrying out eisa workshop, exhibition, and talk show in some cities in Indonesia. Recently, this group has started to explore Indonesian tradition and blend it with eisa itself as Indonesian-characteristic-eisa.

Tags: Eisa, U-Maku Eisa, Taiko Okinawa, Taiko Eisa, Okinawan Dance & Drum, Taiko Odori, Obon Matsuri, Odaiko, Shimedaiko, Paranku, Sanshin