(, ) is a form of folk dance originating from the Okinawa Islands, Japan. In origin, it is a Bon dance that is performed by young people of each community during the Bon festival to honor the spirits of their ancestors. It underwent drastic changes in the 20th century and is today seen as a vital part of Okinawan culture. Popular style Modern is danced by 20 to 30 young men and women, mainly in doubled lines or circles to the accompaniment of singing, chanting, and drumming by the dancers as well as by folk songs played on the . Three types of drums are used in various combinations, depending upon regional style: the , a large barrel drum; the , a medium-sized drum similar to ones used in Noh theatre; and the (), a small hand drum similar to ones used in Buddhist ceremony. The dancers also sometimes play small hand gongs and castanets. dancers wear various costumes, usually according to local tradition and gender of the dancer; modern costumes are often brightly colored and feature a characteristic, colorful knotted turban. Special vests, leggings, and shoes are also popular. History Origin The origin of is unclear, like for many other folk performing arts. Iha Fuyū argued that the name of was related to (), a phrase appearing in Volume 14 of the (16th–17th centuries). This theory is no longer supported. It is more likely that the name derived from an exclamation used in the original song of , the (). The standardization of the written form was relatively new. Meiji era newspaper articles used various forms including (), (), and (). The core of consists of songs. The (1713) attributes the introduction of to Taichū (1552–1639), a Jōdo sect monk from Mutsu Province. According to the record, he translated Buddhist teaching into the vernacular speech and taught it to the people of Naha during the reign of Shō Nei. Other sources confirm that Taichū stayed in the capital region for three years in the early 1600s and converted the king and other high-ranking officials. Some researchers speculate that he introduced or dancing nembutsu to Naha. However, Taichū's teaching did not prevail; it was barely carried on by his followers in Kakinohana, Naha. Another important factor related to the origin of is (), a group of puppeteers. The records two theories regarding the etymology of . One is that it