"Esashi Oiwake" has taken root and been nurtured in this land, undergoing many changes throughout the long history and climate of Esashi.

At some point, the song spread throughout the country as one that evokes empathy deep in the hearts of Japanese people, and today, with a total of 125 branches, including five overseas branches in Brazil, Hawaii, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco, and a population of 2,099, it has grown to become a traditional culture that can be proud of around the world.

The Esashi Oiwake National Tournament is a major event unique to Esashi, the home of Oiwake, where 320 singers of Esashi Oiwake, selected from all over the country, gather to compete to be the best singer in Japan.

It is the oldest national folk song competition that has continued to this day since the first one was held in 1963. For three days in autumn, the entire town of Esashi becomes a stage for the Oiwake festival, with the entire venue based at the Cultural Center as the base, and is filled with excitement and enthusiasm as it is colored by the Esashi Oiwake festival.

*Image is for illustrative purposes only.