ソーラン節とはもともと北海道日本海でニシン漁を営んでいた漁師たちの間で生まれた民謡で、World Soran!が踊るのは、後に民謡歌手の伊藤多喜雄さんがアップテンポにアレンジしたTAKIO’S SORAN2です。稚内市の南中学校で編み出された振り付け『南中ソーラン』をもとにしています。
Soran-Bushi is originally a sea shanty born among herring fishermen in the northern sea of Hokkaido, Japan. It has been modernized by Japanese folksinger Takio Ito with Japanese taiko drumming. The choreography that World Soran! dances is based on Nanchu-Soran which was created by teachers and students of Minami Junior High School in Wakkanai, Hokkaido, in the early 1990s. Currently it has been performed at sports festivals, culture festivals and other events throughout the country. It is also known as a good exercise for children and adults, requiring a great amount of stamina and energy.
伊藤多喜雄オフィシャルHP (Takio Ito’s Official Website)
TAKIO’S SORAN 2 on YouTube
20世紀初頭にバンクーバー地域には移住した多くの日系移民は、連邦政府が設定した非白人移民に対する差別的な法律や人種差別を受けながらも、林業・鉱業・漁業に携わりたくましくこの地に根を生やしました。
特に、リッチモンド(バンクーバー郊外)のスティーブストン地域にある鮭の缶詰工場では、多くの日系移民が働いていました。初期移民の一人である工野儀兵衛(和歌山県の三尾村(現・美浜町)出身)は、フレーザーリバーを上る大群の鮭を見て、故郷三尾村から多くの漁師を呼び寄せたのです。
私たちは漁師文化に端を発する踊りをバンクーバー地域で披露することで、この地域の初期日系移民の強さと忍耐に敬意を表し、伝え続けていくことも目的としています。
Many people from Japan who landed in the Vancouver Area in the early 20th century worked in the forestry, mining, or fisheries, and found their way to settle down here despite the discriminatory laws set by the federal government.
Salmon canneries at Steveston in Richmond BC, had a lot of Japanese workers. One of the early immigrants, Gihei Kuno, who was originally working as a carpenter, immediately switched his professions when he saw the salmon running thick in Fraser River, and wrote to his home village about this finny bounty he unexpectedly found in the western part of Canada. It is said that thousands of fishermen followed his letter to come to Steveston.
World Soran! pay homage to the early settlers and contributes to strengthen the bond of Nikkei communities, and friendship between Canada and Japan into the future.
References:
National Associations of Japanese Canadians「日系カナダ人の歴史」
Wikipedia「工野儀兵衛」
Photo courtesy: Yuki Sudo (@traveler0705yuki), Miki Takabayashi, Grace Ho
New Westminster
Hyack Festival Administration
ニューウェストミンスター市のハヤックフェスティバル実行委員の皆様より応援をいただきました。ありがとうございます。
We have received acknowledgement from New Westminster Hyack Festival Administration.
Vancouver Sunrise
Rotary Club
バンクーバーサンライズロータリークラブでも、ご紹介いただきました。
Our activity was also introduced at Rotary Club of Vancouver Sunrise.
場所をレンタルして練習する場合は、練習1回につき$4~5のドネーションをお願いしています。
We ask all members to pitch in $4-5 each time we practice at a rental venue.
Sakura Days Japan Fair 2024 (Vancouver, BC): April 14, 2024
World Soran! Presentation at McMath Secondary School (Richmond, BC): December 14, 2023
Maritime Festival (Richmond, BC): August 26, 2023
47th Powell Street Festival 2023 (Vancouver, BC): August 6, 2023
Uptown Live 2023 (New Westminster, BC): July 15, 2023
Hyack Festival 2023 (New Westminster, BC): May 28 2023
World Soran!の活動と写真をInstagramでチェック!
See more photos of World Soran! performances on Instagram