Awa odori is the most popular Japanese Dance festival for sure! 12-15 August every year, this Matsuri is performed throughout Tokushima city central area!
I tripped from Kobe to Tokushima (1day) and introduced the journey as well 🙂
I also did the Awa-odori live streaming on Facebook.
https://fb.watch/eVrf__LWfW/
If you like please check this out too 🙂
The Awa Odori dance has a 400-year history and is known throughout the world. There are many theories about its origin.
It is said that the dance began to flourish when Hachisuka Iemasa, the founder of the Tokushima domain, arrived in Tokushima in 1586 (Tensho 14) and accumulated wealth from indigo, salt, and other products.
Awa Odori became a popular entertainment for the people, and especially after World War II, it developed remarkably as a symbol of the reconstruction of the city.
Through this history, Awa Odori has become known throughout the world as one of Japan’s representative traditional performing arts.
The current Awa Odori is held throughout Tokushima Prefecture, starting with the Naruto City Awa Odori held on August 9 every year, but the most lively is the Tokushima City Awa Odori held for four days from August 12 to August 15 every year.
Awa Odori dance festivals are held not only in Tokushima Prefecture but also throughout Japan, and Tokushima City’s “Awa Odori Dance” is the largest in Japan.
The main festival is held for four days from August 12 to 15, but the festival begins on the 11th, the day before the main festival, with the “Night before the Selected Awa Odori Festival,” followed by the “Selected Awa Odori Festival” during the daytime and “Awa Odori at the performance hall” at night during the main festival period.
Here, we would like to introduce you to the Awa Odori dance in Tokushima City.
Awa Odori is a light and cheerful two-beat rhythm unique to the Awa Odori dance. The original meaning of the word is “boisterous,” and refers to the lively, flamboyant dancing.
According to one theory, the Awa Odori originated when the people of Tokushima Castle were invited to dance in celebration of the completion of the castle by Iemasa Hachisuka in 1587.
Here are three theories on the origin of the Awa Odori dance.
Theory of the Origin of Fu-ryu Odori
The kumi-odori, a characteristic of the Awa Odori dance, is said to have been strongly influenced by “furyu,” which is said to be the origin of Noh drama. The origin of the Bon Odori dance
Theory of Bon Odori Origin
This is a theory that Awa Odori is a Bon Odori held in July of the lunar calendar, and that it originated from Bon Odori, even though special types of Odori such as “aburi” and “kumi Odori” have been derived from it.
Awa Odori Terminology Encyclopedia
In order to help you enjoy the Awa Odori dance even more, here are some basic terms related to the Awa Odori dance.Some of the terms may be unfamiliar to you, so please take a look.
Ren
An organization or group that dances the Awa Odori dance is called a ren.There are many different types of ren, such as famous traditional ren, corporate ren, and student ren.
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