Vol. 2: Samba Festa Kobe
The Rio de Janeiro Carnival was introduced in the first installment of this popular series, and this time the report comes from Kobe!
Seiji Ozaki / Sun Agro Osaka Factory
The samba heat won’t be tamped down by rain!
On the morning of July 25, I loaded up a big drum that was like a plastic bucket, and drove alone from my hometown, Osaka to the Maritime Museum at the Port of Kobe where the Samba Festa was held.
Samba Festa is an event (hosted by Kobe City) in which about ten teams of ten to forty people compete, with participants from Oizumimura, Gunma Prefecture and Tokyo in the east, and Hakata, Fukuoka Prefecture in the west. The event also has participants from Brazil, the home of Samba.
Ordinarily, the Kobe sea is perfectly complemented by fair weather. But just on this day, there was heavy rain from morning on. Since the samba stadium has outdoor facilities, the heavy rain hit the stage during rehearsal as well. At four o’clock in the evening, after deliberations by the hosts, it was announced that the festival would indeed be held.
The stage is a battle of floridity
As the contest proceeded, evening fell on the surrounding area, and the moored passenger boats appeared bluish white, while the soaring Kobe Port Tower shone red softly over the Port of Kobe.
On our team, we have dance leaders who passed the audition for Beija Flor—a group that consistently wins at the original Carnival in Rio—and who have several years of experience leading star dancers. And our percussionists, who are watched by the invincible team also includes a select group, are supported by major artists from Japan.
It is the best feeling in the world to have the opportunity to perform in competition onstage—as part of a team with excellent tone, dancing, and stage composition—in front of such large audiences at the most excellent venue which symbolizes Kobe. The dancers are truly stunning, broadly beaming with their colorful feathered costumes illuminated, and filling the stage. The results are determined by a panel of eight judges, and after deliberations over a tie for first place, the tie was split by a narrow margin and we took second place.
With such music and dancing, participants become one at this social gathering.
Once the music flows at the social gathering after the competition is over, everyone brings instruments together and the venue is filled with bossa nova style music. Alongside the people playing instruments, dancers give in to the high and begin to dance, pairs twirling in salsa style steps. Everyone enjoys this time in their own way, and the night goes on at the Port of Kobe on this evening too, as great friends who enjoy every day get together here.
It may be that up-tempo rhythm, but Samba certainly gives you a sunny feeling. Don’t you want to live an active and passionate life every day by dancing Samba? By all means, let’s do it together!
http://www.solnascente.jp/
Audience members gazing at a stage set up in the stadium.
At the foot of the Port Tower in the evening just before the contest.
Dancers posing in front of the Port Tower.
Dancers dancing onstage (1)
Dancers dancing onstage (2)
Dancers dancing onstage (3)
Marubeni Group magazine "M-SPIRIT" VOL.54 (November, 2009)
