Awa-odori (The Awa Dance Festival)

Awa-odori Matsuri (阿波踊り, the Awa Dance Festival) is one of Japan's oldest and most famous dance festivals, held annually in Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. Attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists and participants from all over the country, this colorful festival has a centuries-old history and deep cultural roots. Awa-odori Festival is a symbol of Japanese national tradition, embodying the spirit of unity and respect for ancestors.

Awa-odori is held during Obon Matsuri, a traditional Japanese festival to honor the memory of the ancestors, from 12 to 15 August. The main action takes place in the streets of Tokushima.

History of the Festival

The name “Awa-odori” is composed of two parts: “Awa”, the old name of Tokushima Prefecture, and “odori”, which means dance. The dance style of the festival has evolved over the centuries, borrowing movements from the Buddhist dances of nembutsu-odori and hiji-odori of the Kamakura period (1185-1333).

Several theories explain the origin of Awa-odori:

• Celebration of the completion of Tokushima Castle: One of the most widely accepted theories is that Awa-odori originated in 1586 when Prince Hachisuka Iemasa completed the construction of Tokushima Castle and held a grand celebration. The locals, drunk on sake, began to dance carelessly in the streets, leading to the development of a structured festival. This is reflected in the first lines of a song sung during the dance:

Awa-no tono-sama Hachisuka-sama-ga ima-ni nokoseishi Awa Odori

What the ruler Hachisuka has left us to this day is Awa Odori

• Bon-odori influence: Another theory links Awa-odori to Bon-odori, a dance performed during the Obon festival to honor ancestral spirits. It is believed that locals in the Awa region created their own unique style of Bon-odori, which later became known as Awa-odori.

Over the centuries, Awa-odori developed and gained popularity beyond Tokushima. During the Meiji period (1868-1912), the festival was discontinued due to the bankruptcy of Tokushima's indigo producers, who had financed the event.

In the twentieth century, the festival was revived and acquired its current name and status as the most vibrant event in the prefecture. With the advent of modern media, Awa-odori began to attract an increasing number of international tourists. Today, it is an integral part of Japan's cultural life and a symbol of Tokushima Prefecture.

Performing Awa-odori

The festival has several key elements:

Ren Dance

Ren are groups of dancers dressed in traditional costumes who perform synchronised movements to the sounds of Japanese musical instruments such as drums (taiko), flutes (fue) and bells. Each ren has its own unique style, costume and music, reflecting the identity of the region - the dancers' home. This diversity makes the festival colourful, dynamic and engaging. Although the costumes vary, there are common features: all female dancers wear amigas and yukatas, which emphasise elegance and rhythmic movement, while men wear hanten jackets and yukatas. Groups can be both professional and amateur.

Male and Female Dance Styles

There are two styles of dance in Awa-odori: male and female. The men perform powerful and somewhat rough movements, crouching low with their knees outward and their arms raised above their shoulders. Women's group dances are graceful and elegant, characterized by fluid gestures and high arm movements. Children and teenagers under the age of 20 typically perform in a masculine style.

Songs and Music

Musical accompaniment plays an important role in the dances. They are performed to the traditional song "Awa-Yoshikono", with the rhythm provided by drums, flutes and the shamisen, a stringed instrument similar to a guitar. The melody of the song originates from the Ibaraki region, but motifs from Kumamoto Prefecture can also be heard. This song is sung during breaks in the procession, usually in larger areas with special stands for paid spectators. Not all ren have a main singer, so the following lines can often be heard from the dancers:

Odoru ahou ni, miru ahou, onaji ahou nara, odorana son, son
The dancers are fools, the watchers are fools, both are fools, so why not dance?

This phrase reflects the philosophy of Awa-odori: it doesn't matter how well you can dance; the important thing is to enjoy the celebration and be a part of it.

The song is also accompanied by calls and responses (hayashi kotoba): "Ayattosa, Ayattosa", "Hayattya yattya", "Erai yattya, erai yattya" and "Yoi, yoi, yoi, yoi, yoi". These phrases may have no specific meaning, but they energise the dancers and set the rhythm of the procession.

Awa-odori Festival attracts more than a million spectators and participants every year. The streets of Tokushima are transformed into a huge stage where Japanese tradition and modernity intertwine, captivating everyone with an atmosphere of fun and unity. The festival has also spread beyond Tokushima and similar dance events are now held in other major Japanese cities, including Tokyo, Kobe and Osaka, demonstrating the importance of Awa-odori in Japanese culture.