The works of Sakubei Yamamoto
Fights, Rice Riots

Rice Riots at Coal Pits (Yama) #8: Bon Dancing
1964 - 1967

Yama no Kome-sodo #8: Bon Odori
[Rice Riots at Coal Pits (Yama) #8: The Bon Dancing]
37.9 x 53.9 cm Painting in Watercolors and Ink

(The people in Tagawa celebrated the Bon festival from the 13th to 15th day of the 7th month by the lunar calendar every year until 1945)
The rice riots among many parts of Japan were forcibly quelled by the military by August 18th [in 1918 (the 12th day of the 7th month by the lunar calendar)], but the aftermath of the riots did not completely cease. The police banned meetings or gatherings with more than 9 people. However, since the term of the Bon Festival began on the next day according to the lunar calendar this year [from the 19th to 21st of August], the people in the pits in Tagawa enjoyed the Bon dancing peculiar to the Buzen part of the Chikuho region as usual with paper fans in their hands. Lots of people danced in circles, dreading that they had to run away in all directions if they saw policemen.

Kudoki (Lyrics of a Song Sung in the Bon Dancing)
Suzuki Mondo to yu samurai wa, Yoiya-sassa-no Yoiya-sanosa,
Useta katana o sagasan tameni, Kora-sassa-no Yoiya-sanosa...

A samurai named Mondo Suzuki, Yoiya-sassa-no Yoiya-sanosa,
Searching for his lost sword, Kora-sassa-no Yoiya-sanosa (Interjected chants)...


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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