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Nagano Children Practicing "Yukinko" Dance About 150 students representing over 70 elementary and middle schools and schools for the blind and the deaf in Nagano City are currently practicing a special dance called "Yukinko" to be presented during the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games. The dance will take place at the main stadium, where the dancers will lead the athletes into the arena immediately after their performance.
The name "Yukinko" signifies a sprite said to emerge when it snows, according to folk tales. The children will wear straw coats called yuki mino, a traditional winter costume worn long ago by many people in the snowy parts of Japan.
Attired in this fashion, the children will dance to a tune based on a well-known nursery song of the Azumino region of Nagano, composed specially for the occasion. Nearly 70 different musical instruments from all over the world will be used in playing the tune.
After the children dance to the melody for about seven minutes, they will take off their yuki mino to reveal various costumes representing the flags of the countries participating in the Winter Olympics. The children will then carry signs showing the names of the countries and lead the athletes into the stadium, together with many sumo wrestlers who will demonstrate the dohyo-iri (ring-entering) ritual during the Opening Ceremony. At Shinonoi Nishi Middle School in Nagano City, two students were selected for the performance. They began practicing the dance in late August, and have kept training two or three times a month. Because the school has chosen to promote friendly ties with the United States, one student says, "I would like to do my best as a representative of my school. I would also like to support U.S. athletes during the Winter Olympics."
