Kawachi ondo

Emmanuelle Loubet writes that Kawachi Ondo has long had a grassroots vitality and that the Kawachi area's association with the working class, yakuza, street fights, rough language, and Buraku communities has likely contributed to the form's close links to community practice rather than being "pasteuriz[ed] for consumption by the masses."

This folk tune is used to tell epic tales, usually about historic people, lore, and/or geography, even yakuza.

It can be used to talk about current events, and expert singers are able to improvise lyrics on the spot, as well as sing words directly from a newspaper.

Expert singers, known as ondotori, become renowned in the area or in parts of Japan where Kawachi Ondo is famous.

The festival celebrates the song, and a massive Bon Odori is held where many famous singers go and perform.

Koishimaru Izutsuya's singing is featured on a UNESCO/Smithsonian Folkways recording with extensive liner notes and transcriptions of his live performance.

The kakegoe "ha iya korase dokoise" is found in both songs and is well known to Japanese citizens of Osaka.

Romaji: Een sate wa kono ba no Minasama e choito demashita watakushi wa Omikake doori no jakuhai de Yo- hoi hoi Makari demashita mijuku-mono Oki ni mesu you nya yomenai keredo Nanahyaku-nen no mukashi kara utaitsuzuketa Kawachi ondo ni nosemashite Seikon komete utaimasho

Translation: Greetings to everyone here I've come to address you briefly Though I'm quite an amateur as you can see Yo- hoi hoi I'm a beginner, coming before you takes great effort And I may not sing in a pleasant manner However, I will do my best to sing This song, Kawachi ondo Which has been sung for nearly 700 years

“The Ondo Singers of Kawachi, Japan: Anatomy of a Socio-Sonic Phenomenon.” Musicworks: Explorations in Sound, no.