Awa Odori is a large dance festival in
Tokushima
Prefecture that happens on August 12th-15th as part of
the Obon season.
Awa Odori is the most famous and
largest dance
festival
in Japan. Awa Odori is known to be associated with
this
phrase. “It’s a fool who dances and a fool who
watches.
If both are fools, you might as well have fun dancing.”
It
is the translated lyrics that come from a common
dance
song in Japan. This dance festival happens in
Tokushima Prefecture during the Obon (festival of the
dead) Festival. It is said that the spirits of the
deceased
visit their living relatives for a few days during Obon.
The Awa Odori has thousands of dancers broken
down
into groups ranging from amateurs to seasoned
practitioners.
These groups are referred to as “ren” and performed
in
designated streets, which are blocked off from traffic.
Along with the dancers are traditional instruments like
the taiko, shamisen, flute, etc. that provide the
musical
rhythm of the performance. The women wear a
yukata
(a light cotton kimono) with amigasa (a woven rush
grass hat) and the men wear a happi (light cotton
coat)
over shorts. The main dance performances begin at
6pm and usually conclude around 10pm each night.
You
can pay for reserved seating that ranges from 800 to
2100 yen. Outside of these stage areas are food and
game stalls that people can enjoy throughout the and
at
night. The Awa Odori can trace its beginnings back to
1587 when Hachisuka Iemasa (feudal lord at the
time)
wanted to celebrate the completion of Tokushima
Castle. He offered sake (rice wine) to all the citizens
of
the city, which resulted in many people dancing in a
drunken state. Since then it had turn into a city wide
dance celebration. If you are not able to make it to
see
the dances then you can visit the Awa Odori Kaikan,
which is a museum showcasing the history of the
festival. There is also a dance hall where you can see
some dance demonstrations.
Please see below for tours that include Awa
Odori Dance Festival:
