Kumamoto’s Hi no Kuni Matsuri (Fire Country Festival) — the city’s biggest summer celebration — features a mass street dance called the Otemoyan So-Odori, where thousands of participants move together through the city centre. To help newcomers get festival-ready, the event’s organising committee has released free online lesson videos covering two dance styles: Theme Otemoyan and Samba Otemoyan.
Both videos are designed with beginners in mind, using a slow, step-by-step breakdown so that even first-timers can follow along confidently. The lessons are available to watch any time on YouTube — just search for the official Hino Kuni Matsuri lesson videos or visit the festival’s website for a direct link.
Whether you’re a long-term resident looking to get fully involved in local life, an ALT wanting to join in with your students, or a visitor who happens to be in Kumamoto at the right time, the So-Odori is one of those experiences that’s genuinely hard to forget. Hi no Kuni Matsuri 2026 runs from July 31 to August 2 — so there’s still plenty of time to practise. If you’d like to help make the event happen behind the scenes, volunteers are also being recruited for the festival.
For questions about the videos or the dance itself, the festival secretariat (熊本市イベント推進課 / Kumamoto City Event Promotion Division) can be reached by phone, fax, or email:
| Contact method | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone | 096-328-2948 |
| Fax | 096-323-9262 |
| eventsuishin@city.kumamoto.lg.jp | |
| Address | 〒860-8601 熊本市中央区手取本町1番1号（熊本市イベント推進課） |
Source: Kumamoto City Tourism Guide
