Hachigatsu-Odori Dance

Hachigatsu-Odori（八月踊り） is a seasonal dance observed on the Amami Islands（奄美諸島） every year in September (August of former lunisolar calendar) in celebration of successful harvests and so as to pray for next harvest. Local communities form circles and sing and dance to the sounds of the chijin（チジン） drums and Amami shamisens（奄美三線）. Amami island songs（奄美島唄） played during this celebration are said to share its origins with Okinawan island songs.