Awa Odori is a massive dance festival in Tokushima prefecture. Awa is the former name for Tokushima, and odori means dance. It originates from 1587 when, to celebrate the construction of Tokushima Castle, the feudal lord Hachisuka Iemasa gave sake to the citizens and they got so drunk they began to dance in the streets like a bunch of fools! Hence, it is known as the “Fools’ Dance” and is said, “Fools dance and fools watch, if both are fools, you might as well dance!”
AloJapan.com