Awa Odori Festival in Shin-Nakano, Tokyo

Awa Odori Folk Dance Festival is one of Japan's largest and most famous dance festivals. It is usually held during the summer in mid-August to mark Obon period during which it is believed that the souls of the ancestors return to the world. The festival originated in Tokushima City, Tokushima Province on the southern island of Shikoku. It spread over several other areas in Japan including Tokyo and I had an opportunity to go see the festive dance in Shin-Nakano, Tokyo.

20170716-15-01-shinnakano-awaodori

Awa Odori is said to have continued for about 400 years and started as a festival a local feudal lord hosted to celebrate the construction of Tokushima Castle. This tradition has been upheld by generations and so that even today we can still see it.

20170716-15-02-shinnakano-awaodori

The dancers began dancing to the rhythm of taiko drums, shamisen, and shinobue flutes. They wear yukata (summer kimono) and straw hats and sing the song titled ‘Awa Yoshikono’.

20170716-15-03-shinnakano-awaodori

The lyrics of the song is as follows: "The dancers are fools, and the watchers are fools. Both are fools alike, so let’s all dance!”

It invites the spectators to join dancing. I was carried away and started to move my hands as the dancers do.

20170716-15-04-shinnakano-awaodori

Aside from watching the dance, there were many food stalls of okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and others available on the street. I bought a plum on a stick coated with caramel candy. It was fresh and good!

20170716-15-05-shinnakano-awaodori

Awa Odori Festival in Shin-Nakano begins in the evening around 5 pm and ends at 8 pm. As the night goes on, the number of the dancers increase and get crowded on the street. Various groups of dancers with different costumes continue to amaze the spectators.

20170716-15-06-shinnakano-awaodori


20170716-15-07-shinnakano-awaodori

Not only adults, but there were also kids and adolescent dancers. The dance covers all age groups.

20170716-15-08-shinnakano-awaodori

And foreign participants were there too.

20170716-15-09-shinnakano-awaodori

20170716-15-10-shinnakano-awaodori

Finally, the show was over and the hot summer day went lively.
・Place : Shin-Nakano Awa Odori
・Address : Shin-Nakano Station
・Phone : -
・Open : 17:00 - 20:00
・Closed : -
・Fee : Free

Not only adults, but there were also kids and adolescent dancers. The dance covers all age groups.


Survey[Survey] Traveling to Japan







Recommend