Sweat, smiles, tears... A compilation of four days of passionate dancers at the Yosakoi Festival
46The 2025 Yosakoi Festival concluded on the 12th with the National Finals and the festival's after-party. We look back on the four hot days of summer with the voices of the dancers and festival supporters.
The 72nd Yosakoi Festival. What the dancers were worried about...
(Dancer)
"I thought it was going to rain just now."
"I'm a little worried about the weather forecast."
"Rain is forecast for the main festival, so..."
The rain was intermittent. Kochi City's fireworks display was also in danger of being canceled, but it went off without a hitch.
(From Kochi)
"It was beautiful!"
(From Osaka)
"I'm looking forward to (the Yosakoi Festival)!"
The 2024 award-winning teams performed at the festival's eve amidst the fireworks. What are your aspirations for 2025?
(Dancer)
"(Truck Yosakoi (Chifure)) wants to work hard and win our fourth consecutive championship, but I think the most important thing is to have fun."
"We want to capture the hearts of the audience."
I wish it had stayed a light rain...
It's starting to rain in earnest.
Q. What about the unfortunate weather?
"It's so beautiful, so pretty."
"I can feel the summer in Kochi! Yosakoi is the best!"
At Atago Performance Hall, the smiling dancers, soaked but still smiling, receive flower medals as a reward!
After sunset, the rain gets even stronger. At Manman Performance Hall, Truck Yosakoi (Chifure) is dancing, aiming for their fourth consecutive championship.
They perform a beautiful formation in the rain, but suddenly the music and lights go out. Still, the dancers continue without interruption with a cappella, thrilling the audience. Truly a team with three consecutive victories! You can see the amount of practice and teamwork they put into it.
The Kochi Prefecture Yosakoi Ambassador Kizuna International Team participated for the first time in two years. They were overwhelmed with joy to be able to dance in Kochi again.
Dancing in the rain was amazing! The light, rain, and colors were so much fun! It's so exciting!
(Kochi Prefecture Yosakoi Ambassador Kizuna International Team Representative, Emiko Tanaka)
"It's the best. The rain feels great, and I'm so happy to be back here. Everyone is working hard, blowing the rain away. It's truly a wonderful memory. I'm glad to be back in Kochi; I love Kochi."
These people also helped liven up the Yosakoi. The prefectural police participated for the first time in about half a century. They danced in their uniforms, clappers in hand!
"Police have a reputation for being strict, but I hope I was able to convey that we work in a friendly atmosphere."
"I didn't expect so many people to come, so I'm glad so many people came to watch."
"We usually work behind the scenes providing crowd control. I think we were able to show that we're also committed to local activities."
Players from J3 soccer team Kochi United SC made an appearance at Harimayabashi Stadium!
They handed out medals as judges.
(Kochi United SC player Nao Imai)
"We handed out medals not only to the dancers but also to those on the track. Our evaluation criteria were those who were working hard, had a lovely smile, and were having fun."
"High school students are volunteering here to provide water."
Students from Okatoyo High School will continue to support the dancers in 2025. They provided drinks at the finish line at Obiyamachi Enbujo.
(Okato High School student)
"It makes me so happy when people say 'thank you,' and I'm glad I did it."
(Dancer)
"The audience was so warm! Kochi is the best! Thank you so much!"
In 2025, the Kochi Ekimae Competition Hall, formerly the Enbujo Theater, was transformed into a competition hall. A new stage and box seating were added, making the venue even more spectacular.
(From Hyogo)
"Seeing the dancers working hard with smiles on their faces even when soaking wet made the rain twice as moving."
This was the first Yosakoi performance for a team that withdrew from the festival in 2024 due to the announcement of the Nankai Trough Earthquake Emergency Warning.
(Dancer)
"There's so much fun you can only experience at the main festival, so I'm really excited."
"I'm so happy everyone got to watch me dance."
"Yonden is the best!"
In 2025, 188 teams and approximately 18,000 people participated. Each team and dancer has their own story.
Meanwhile, the winner of the 2025 Yosakoi Grand Prize was... "Honiya." This was their first Grand Prize since 2018.
The final day of the Yosakoi Festival! The national competition featured the winners from the main competition and teams from outside the prefecture. At the Kochi Castle venue, the winners began their dance.
The VIAN' Yosakoi team, competing for the first time in 2025, won the Regional Competition Hall Association Encouragement Award. The team was surprised, as it was their first Yosakoi debut.
"I'm a star!"
Once completely dark at the Kochi Castle venue, the dancers gathered on stage for a group dance, concluding the festival.
(Dancer)
"Everyone's smiles w...