odoriko

Odoriko is a Japanese noun (written 踊子) that translates to "dancer," specifically a female dancer. The term is formed from the kanji for dance (踊) and the suffix 子, which is often used to denote a person or role. In Japanese, odoriko can refer generally to a dancer involved in performance or traditional dance contexts, though in modern everyday language it is less common than terms like 踊り手 (odorite) or 踊り子 in contemporary usage.

The most notable literary use of the term is in Yasunari Kawabata’s novella Izu no Odoriko, commonly translated as The Dancer of Izu or The Izu Dancer. Published in the 1920s, the story follows a Tokyo student who travels with a troupe of dancers to the Izu Peninsula and becomes romantically involved with a young dancer. The work is recognized for its lyrical prose and its exploration of youth, memory, and the transience of beauty. It played a significant role in establishing Kawabata’s early literary voice and contributed to his later standing in Japanese literature. The Izu no Odoriko has been translated into English and adapted for film on multiple occasions.

In broader cultural use, odoriko appears primarily as a literary or descriptive label rather than a common everyday term. It remains most closely associated with Kawabata’s work and with historical or poetic references to dancers in Japanese culture.