[For Seniors] Fun Activities That Liven Up Cool Evening Festivals and Summer Festivals
The big summer event, the “Cool Evening Festival.” This time, we’re introducing summer festival-style games and activities that older adults can enjoy together.
We’ve gathered classic booth games that capture the festival atmosphere, such as goldfish scooping, senbonbiki (string lottery), and target shooting.
Of course, these are all easy to run indoors at a facility.
If everyone encourages each other as they join in, it will surely become a wonderful memory.
By tailoring how each person participates, conversations will flow and the whole venue will be filled with smiles.
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Gymnastics/Dance You Can Sing and Dance To (1–10)
Kawachi Otoko-bushiNEW!
Kawachi Otoko-bushi is a single by Mitsuko Nakamura released in 1989.
It is known as a famous song with high name recognition, having been performed multiple times on the popular year-end program NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
It’s a bright, rhythmic number that seniors can enjoy singing and dancing to.
There are several dance variations, so look for choreography that is easy for older adults to perform.
Try full-body movement with choreography that allows for the largest possible motions, such as raising both hands or swinging them to the sides.
Life is like a Naniwa-bushi (a melodramatic ballad).NEW!
These days, it’s increasingly common for popular songs and enka to be enjoyed just as they are as Bon Odori tunes.
What’s your favorite song? “Naniwabushi da yo Jinsei wa” is one of Takashi Hosokawa’s signature hits, and he won the Japan Record Award’s Best Vocal Performance for this song.
Others like Harumi Miyako and Kiyoko Suizenji have also covered it.
The choreography has been uploaded to video sites by the Tokyo Bon Odori Association.
It’s a fun, modern routine that matches the feel of the song, so be sure to check it out!
Soma Bon SongNEW!
The Soma Bon Uta, known as a folk song from the Soma region of Fukushima Prefecture, has lyrics that pray for a bountiful harvest in the area.
It is said to be a source for songs like Hokkai Bon Uta and Fukushima Ondo, and is widely danced across Japan as one of the classic Bon Odori numbers.
The choreography is very simple—opening the hands in parallel, clapping twice in front of the body, and so on—so it’s delightful that even first-timers can dance it right away.
Since the movements focus mainly on the upper body, older adults can also enjoy dancing safely while seated.
Gymnastics and Dances You Can Sing and Dance To (11–20)
Bon Odori (Bon dance)NEW!
Bon Odori is an essential part of summer festivals! The time when everyone forms a circle and dances to Bon Odori songs fosters a sense of unity and offers a great chance to move your body while having fun.
Older adults may have danced in their youth, so they might remember the steps the moment they hear a famous tune.
It’s a music recreation activity that can be thoroughly enjoyed indoors, so be sure to plan one in the summer and get everyone excited.
To avoid tripping and falling, make sure to wear comfortable, easy-to-move-in clothing.
hula dance
A performance that really lifts the summer mood: hula dance.
Hula is a dance that lets you feel summery all year round—evoking a perpetual tropical vibe and putting you at ease.
Watching professional hula dancers is wonderful, of course, but how about trying a seated hula together? These days there are many types of hula you can do while sitting in a chair, with plenty of videos and websites introducing them.
It’s a two-for-one performance: you can enjoy the tropical atmosphere and get some exercise at the same time.
Tokyo Ondo: Senior Exercise
Some older adults may have danced in yukata at summer festivals, right? There are many different bon-odori songs across Japan.
Each region has its own distinctive style, and “Tokyo Ondo” is one of them.
Its lively call-and-response shouts like “Hai-hai!” and “Yoisho!” are characteristic.
The choreography and the sound of the shamisen further enhance the festive atmosphere.
Of course, it’s also nice to dance while seated.
Since this song is used to cheer for the Yakult Swallows, it may also appeal to older adults who enjoy baseball.
Hanagasa Ondo, a dance performed with fans in hand
The Yamagata Hanagasa Festival is held in Yamagata during the summer.
As one of the four major festivals of the Tohoku region, it reportedly attracts about one million visitors from inside and outside the prefecture.
Dancers don hanagasa hats and perform along to the song “Hanagasa Ondo.” Why not try bringing this summer festival from Yamagata Prefecture into senior care facilities as well? You can substitute the hanagasa with a uchiwa fan for the dance.
Using a fan allows you to express movements that look graceful and elegant with either one hand or both.
The dance can be done while seated, and its gentle motions are likely to bring smiles to the faces of older adults.