Gataine Odori: Omuta

Overview

Gataine Odori is a dance that depicts what happened generations ago in Omuta, a city in Fukuoka Prefecture. In the 19th century, an embankment was constructed as a barrier against the strong tidal flows of the Ariake Sea. The areas that were reclaimed behind the embankment eventually became fertile farmland. The reclamation work involved hauling mud, and much of that work was carried out by women. Today, a group of elderly women keep that story alive by teaching it to local schoolchildren.