What is Sō-odori?
Sō-odori is the signature dance of any Yosakoi festival — one in which every participant dances together.
By sharing the same song and the same choreography across teams, nationalities, and levels of experience, the whole venue becomes one, creating the energy and connection that are uniquely KOKUYOSA.
At KOKUYOSA 2026 we will use the following four songs for the sō-odori.
Kaede (奏楓)
“Kaede” is an original song created as KOKUYOSA’s official theme song.
The song was produced with the involvement of Furachinarizumu, an artist with ties to Kochi, with words and music by Naofumi Mori, who is from Kochi. Its melody blends the tradition of Yosakoi with the spirit of KOKUYOSA — a theme song made for everyone to dance together in the sō-odori.
Banzai Naruko Carnival
“Banzai!! NARUKO CARNIVAL” is a popular song created as the 30th-anniversary sō-odori song of the YOSAKOI Soran Festival. Since its debut in 2021 it has been widely loved by Yosakoi fans and dancers alike.
The vocalist of this song, Takeshi Miyamoto (Mr. YOSAKOI Soran), is also an artist who took part in the very first KOKUYOSA (North American International Yosakoi Festival). Having an artist who knows authentic Japanese Yosakoi culture help launch KOKUYOSA was a moment of great meaning for this festival.
As a sō-odori song that embodies the connection, joy, and shared festival spirit KOKUYOSA holds dear, “Banzai Naruko Carnival” will again bring many dancers and spectators together in 2026.
Yocchore
“Yocchore” is a sō-odori standard that represents the Yosakoi festival and is danced widely across Japan and at Yosakoi events overseas.
With simple, easy-to-learn choreography and calls, it’s an essential sō-odori song that lets first-time dancers and spectators join the circle naturally.
At KOKUYOSA 2025, the “Yocchore” sō-odori was performed to the live singing of Takeshi Miyamoto (Mr. YOSAKOI Soran).
North American dancers moving as one to the live voice of an artist who has long supported authentic Japanese Yosakoi culture became an iconic moment in KOKUYOSA’s history.
Shochō Yosakoi Naruko Odori
“Shochō Yosakoi Naruko Odori” is the traditional sō-odori of Kochi, the birthplace of the Yosakoi festival.
Characterized by its rhythm and the sound of the naruko, it is danced at festivals in Japan and abroad as the very origin of Japanese Yosakoi culture.
At KOKUYOSA 2025 we welcomed Chika Tamura, a leading choreographer from Kochi, who, together with members of Kochi’s Obiyamachi-suji team, held a choreography workshop. Under Tamura’s direct guidance, dancers learned the basics of Shochō Yosakoi Naruko Odori — a valuable chance to experience and master traditional choreography first-hand.
This effort became a symbolic moment connecting Japanese Yosakoi culture with the participants dancing in North America, further raising the value of KOKUYOSA.