Kishiwada’s September Danjiri Festival takes place on September 19–20, 2026.
息を合わせる
Iki o awaseru
To get in sync
At Kishiwada’s Danjiri Festival in Osaka, neighbourhood teams pull large wooden floats through the streets. Pulling, steering and signals must be timed together to turn the floats around corners—bringing 息を合わせる (iki o awaseru), “to get in sync,” vividly to life.
Language note: Literally, this is to match one's breathing. It emphasizes timing and coordination: performing an action together at the right moment. Readings:
息を合わせる (いきをあわせる / iki o awaseru)
Notice the listening and timing behind a shared performance.
DJW practice example:
合図を見て、みんなで息を合わせる。
Aizu o mite, minna de iki o awaseru.
Watch the signal and get in sync together.
Sources:
Kishiwada City: 2026 danjiri schedule: https://www.city.kishiwada.lg.jp/site/danjiri/
Kishiwada City: how teams coordinate the yarimawashi corner turn: https://www.city.kishiwada.lg.jp/site/danjiri/yarimawashi.html