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OKEIKO 36
In Nihonbuyo choreographies we often see scenes with rowing a boat; rowing it with paddle(s) or sticking a pole into the bottom of the water to push the craft forward. Since Japan is an island country surrounded by the sea, boats are certainly familiar to us. Furthermore, in the Edo period, in which many Nihonbuyo pieces are set, many more waterways run through the cities than there are now, so boats and ships were also important as a means of transportation and logistics. In Japan, there is also the term 'funa-asobi', which means to indulge in some kind of entertainment on a boat, such as cooling off, having a feast, watching the moon, watching fireworks, etc. Perhaps, even enjoying the rowing scene performed by a Nihonbuyo dancer can be considered a kind of 'funa-asobi'.
(Mitsuko T. Sakurai)