A Short Video of Hachioji Geisha's Dance At A Hachioji Summer Event

As I introduced in my previous post on July 2nd, there was a local event called "Summer Seasonal Market (Natsu-no-Fubutsu Ichi)" near JR Hachioji Station in West Tokyo between July 2nd and 3rd. 

Hachioji Geishas showed their dance and some traditional entertainment games for Geisha parties twice a day during this event. Geisha is a very well-known word, but "Geisha" literally means "people with artistic skills", and they are in fact entertainers. 

It wouldn't be easy to watch them doing their job since they usually work for private parties. Geisha ladies are not only pouring sake at these parties as often shown in dramas and movies, but they also dance, sing songs, and play instruments for their clients. Moreover they also play fun games with their clients.

Although the dance shown during the event was a traditional Japanese dance and most people are not familiar with that kind of dance nowadays, it represented a number of famous tourist spots in Japan then it was easy to understand. Even if you don't know any famous temple/shrine names in Japan, you would be able to recognize Sumo wrestling and Mt. Fuji in the dance. 

The next open event to see their performance would be the annual Hachioji summer festival in August. Every year, on the first day of the "Hachioji Festival", a Hachioji geisha dance show named "Yoimiya-no-Mai" takes place from 6:30pm at Nakamachi Park on Nishi-Houshasen-You-Road connected to JR Hachioji Station.