Awa Odori - Happy Summer Dance Festival

History

Awa Odori is a traditional summer dance whose origin is said to be traced back to the 16th century, when a shogun built his castle in Tokushima city, Japan. To celebrate its completion, the shogun asked everyone to drink and dance. The drunken people started to dance silly in a comical way -- this is how Awa Odori began.

Now

In recent days, Awa Odori festival is held during Obon week in August. This year it is from August 12-15. Obon is a traditional Buddhist practice that the ancestors are thought to be returned home. Family members welcome their return spiritually during that period. At the same time, people usually celebrate Obon week with a dance festival called Bon (Obon) Odori(Dance). You can find many Bon Odori throughout Japan during Summer. Awa Odori is a version of Bon Odori and it is one of the most popular and lively dance festivals in Summer in Japan. It is perfect for hot summer days and you do not want to miss it.

Who Can Dance?

As a spectator, you can join the dancers and there is no proper and fixed way of dancing Awa Odori. It is derived from the drunk and happy -- so you just shake and turn your hands up and down with a few small steps back and forth like a tipsy stagger while you are enjoying the time. Everyone is smiling with joy and happiness. Dancers of Awa Odori usually form a team called "Ren," and sometimes compete with other Rens for their different types of gorgeous summery kimono called "Yukata," as well as the uniqueness of their dance. Rest assured, you can join a stream of dancers and freely!

Awa Odori will bring you such delightful energy that fits perfectly with leisure travel. It must blast off the past few years of uncertainty and worries from the pandemic. Let's go see and participate in Awa Odori this summer!