Warming weather marks the start of Japan's outdoor festival season, and in Sendai, none is bigger than the Aoba Matsuri. The annual street festival draws about a million visitors from across the region to celebrate Sendai's rich history, with the highlight being the Suzume Odori - or sparrow dance - performed by dozens of community groups.

The dance takes its name from the fluttering, bird-like movements of its performers, and dates to the 17th century, when stonemasons building Sendai Castle reportedly performed it for Lord Masamune Date.

This year's festival runs from May 16 to 17, and once again, Tohoku University students will be involved throughout the weekend.

The Tohoku University Sparrow Dance Team, made up mostly of international students, will take the stage on May 16. The students learnt the dance with help from instructors from local group Datenomai (伊達の舞) as part of a Japanese culture class.

For many, the class has been a gateway into Sendai life. "I saw the Suzume Odori last year and thought it was really cool, then found out there was a class," said Leilanie Torres Curet, an exchange student from the United States. "I've not only learned about local festivals and traditions, but I've also made a lot of friends."

Dante Ramiro ten Brinke, an exchange student from Australia, had never learned a traditional dance before. "I thought the best way to understand Japanese culture was to participate in it, so I signed up," he said. "It's been a lot more fun than I expected. Even though everyone takes the practices seriously, we do still have a laugh!"

As part of Tohoku University's Intercultural Collaborative Learning programme, the class isn't limited to international students. About a third of participants are domestic students from prefectures across Japan.

Mana Iwatani, a second-year agriculture student from Yokohama, took a similar ICL class on Tanabata last semester and wanted to continue exploring Sendai's traditions. "One of the most famous festivals here is Tanabata, and another is Aoba Matsuri, so this semester I'm trying something new," she said. "In the class, we talk about festivals and dances from different countries, and you can see the different ways we dance in the freestyle sections. There's a mixture of cultures, and I think that's what makes our group special."

For Xie Zhijian, a Faculty of Arts and Letters student originally from Beijing, joining the class fulfilled a three-year ambition. "I play the koto in a Japanese traditional instrument club and every year our concert is on the same day as Aoba Matsuri, so I have never even attended the festival," he said. "But this year, I'm choosing to do Suzume Odori instead of the concert and I'm very excited." The class has been "perfect," he added. "I like dancing and I like meeting new people and making friends, and I can do both in this class."

The Tohoku University Sparrow Dance Team has been a regular fixture at Aoba Matsuri for the better part of a decade and has consistently received praise for bringing an international flavour to their performances. About 40 students will perform this year, accompanied by members of the local drum unit Hiyokko (雛鼓).

Suzume Odori

Date: May 16, 2026
Performance times:
4:15 - 4:19 p.m. Main Stage Performance at Nishi Koen
5:39 - 6:09 p.m. Jozenji Street Evening Procession
6:45 - 7:20 p.m. Sendai Yoi Yamaboko Floats
(Note that the times are very specific because of the large number of performing groups.)

On Sunday, the second day of the festival, some 30 international students from Tohoku University will join staff from Fujisaki Department Store in pulling a six-metre-tall traditional float through the Aoba Matsuri Yamaboko Parade.

With large crowds expected downtown and significant street closures around the Jozenji Street area all weekend, the easiest way to reach the festival is by subway to Kotodai-koen Station.

Yamaboko Parade

Date: May 17, 2026
Time: 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Parade route:
Aoba Street ~ Higashi Nibancho Street ~ Jozenji Street

娱乐老虎机_森林舞会游戏-手机版登录:

Senior Assistant Professor Yukiko Shimmi
Tohoku University Global Learning Center
Tel: 022-795-3935
Email: shimmitohoku.ac.jp