Awa Odori Festival, Tokushima City

Enjoy this Japanese Traditional Dance from box seats

Naoko Takeuchi Oct 12, 2015 - 1 min read

<p>Women wearing Kimono play the Shamisen, a Japanese traditional musical instrument</p>

<p>Happi Odori (Dance of women wearing Happi)</p>

<p>Dance of children with red Happi and Hachimaki (Headbands)</p>

<p>The musical bands are called "Narimono". Many kinds of Japanese traditional musical instrument are used</p>

In August, over 1.3 million people come to Tokushima City to enjoy the Awa Odori Dance Festival. During the festival (from 12th to 15th), six outdoor dance areas (Enbujyo) are constructed in the center of the city, and we can see the dances from box seats (Sajiki seki).

The admission fee for four dance areas is 800-2100 yen. On the other hand, two dance areas can be visited for free! Dancing groups called “Ren” come into the dance area one after another and perform their dances and music.

I saw some performances at Tokushima Shiyakusyo-mae Enbujyo (one of the must-pay areas). A popular and attractive “Ren” is Gojyahei-Ren. Each dancing group has its own unique dance style, and the characteristics of Gojyahei-Ren is their lower center of gravity and slow tempo music. The graceful movements of their dance took my breath away.

Naoko Takeuchi @naoko.takeuchi

I was born in Oita prefecture, Kyushu, and grew up in Tokushima prefecture, Shikoku. My sister gave me my first camera and I have been taking pictures since then. Photographs have the power to tell stories, remind us of precious experiences, and motivate people to act. That’s why I love photog...