Japan Expo Paris - July 11-14, 2024
Join us! 104 Days 01 : 16 : 53
Advertisement
News

Tokushima to the rhythm of awa odori

On August 12-15, Tokushima is following the dance steps of awa odori to welcome the souls of the ancestors in the O-bon season.

Posted on

Awa Odori is famous as the fools’ dance because of the lyrics that give it its rhythm: "The dancers are fools - The watchers are fools - Both are fools alike so - Why not dance?" This folk dance dates back to 1587 when the lord Hachisuka IEMASA celebrated the achievement Tokushima’s new castle with the town’s people and offered them saké. They got so drunk they started staggering and dancing unsteady steps. The festival attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year in Tokushima.

 
 

The awa odori dance is made of irregular steps danced to a joyful rhythm. Groups of dancers parade in the city to the sound of shamisen, drums, the brass, and flutes. They wear short light costumes, with colors specific to each group. Professional groups are called ren.

In the daytime, the awa odori groups dance a restrained dance called nagashi, but at night some sort of fever comes over the city, when the dancers start dancing the zomeki, a much more frenzied dance, and when the visitors join "the fools’ dance"!

 
 

Have you ever attended, or danced, the awa odori dance? At Japan Expo maybe with the group Takarabune? Tell us in a comment!

Tags :

  • Culture & traditions
Comments
0 comment
0 / 500

No comment

Follow us

Advertisement

Japan Expo likes

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Log in!
Forgot your password?