Yosakoi Festivals: The Global Phenomenon of a Local Dance

Kochi’s Yosakoi festival has spread around the world due to the way it uniquely centers creativity and freedom.

Picture: fumoto / PIXTA(ピクスタ)

By Eric Margolis

It’s prime summer. That means that Japan’s city centers, streets, and shrines come alive with the song, dance, parades, and food stalls of festival season. Most festivals are hyper-local to the history, culture…