Ghanaians who would be trooping to the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park in Accra on November 3 would witness real Japanese Yosakoi dance when the Ghana Yosakoi Dance Festival opens.

The organizers of the dance festival promise a more exciting festival this time round, better than previous ones.

Throwing more light on the history behind the dance festival in Ghana, Chieko Voncujovi Jimbo, Director of Ghana Yosakoi Planners noted that Yosakoi dance is a traditional folk dance which originated in Kochi, Japan after the end of Second World War and has been held in Kochi since then but was first introduced in Ghana five years ago by the then Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mrs. Kazuko Asai and has been held every year since.

The meaning of Yosakoi is ‘Happiness Will Come’.
Continuing, Madam Jimbo explained that this year’s event would be different because it is being held in line with the celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary.

“Yosakoi in Ghana is a dance competition among Ghanaian dancing teams and schools, and even at this point, 14 Ghanaian dancing groups comprising of more than 700 dancers all over Ghana have already registered to compete with each other at the festival,” she indicated.

Spectators would not only enjoy the dance competition but also have the pleasure of watching and participating in other performances like acrobat, music and games.

The director expressed satisfaction with previous festivals and their patronage and pointed out that this year’s promises to be more fun, even so when admission is free.

Touching on the importance of the festival, Madam Jimbo explained that since its inception the healthy friendship between the good people of Ghana and Japan had deepened, with this festival expected to add more to the existing friendship.

About 20 students from Achimota Secondary School and St. Peter’s Secondary School in August this year visited Japan on a cultural exchange programme that saw them participate in one of the biggest street dance festivals in Japan dubbed “Super Yosakoi”, in Tokyo.

The Ghanaian students teamed up with their Japanese counterparts and together they danced at the festival wearing costumes made in colours of the Ghana flag.

Batman Simini was not left out of the celebration as he composed a song, “Yosakoi Yensa” for the celebration, with choreography done by his dancers.

The joint performance by the Ghanaian and Japanese students really made a remarkable impact, indicating the real meaning of the festival which is unity through dance.

The main sponsor for this year’s festival is Kawasho Foods Corporation of Japan, manufacturers of GEISHA which has been consumed in Ghana for well over 40 years.