Various places in Tokushima prefecture
Google MAP
徳島県内各地
Googleマップ
From 9th to late August
8月9日〜8月下旬
Tokushima city Tourism Association
+81-88-622-4010
徳島市観光協会/088-622-4010
"Awa Odori (Awa dance)" is a kind of "Bon Odori" originated in Tokushima prefecture, and has a history of 400 years. "Bon" is an annual Buddhist event in summer and it is believed that souls of ancestors return to their home during this period. Awa Odori festivals are held at various places in the prefecture, and among them the one in Tokushima city is the biggest. A hundred of thousands of the dancers parade the streets, and entire city is involved in the Awa Odori dance.
Awa Odori dancers are divided into groups called "Ren". There is no fixed style in Awa Odori, and every group has their own dances, performed to a two-beat light rhythm of a music called "Zomeki Bayashi" accompanied with drum, "Kane" (a kind of gong), "Shamisen"(a three-stringed instrument), bamboo flute and so on.
The variety of the dances is also an attractive point. For example, "Yakko Odori" has an intense move which imitate a kite dancing in a violent wind.
If you would like to join the dance, you can get into "Niwaka Ren" which is prepared for unofficial participants. You can participate in the festival after taking short dance lessons by the masters of famous "Ren" groups.
阿波おどりは徳島県発祥の盆踊りの一種で、400年の歴史を持つ。中でも徳島市の阿波おどりは最大規模で祭り期間は１０万人の踊り子が町中を踊り歩き、市中が踊りの渦に巻き込まれる。
阿波おどりは「連（れん）」というグループでおどる。阿波おどりには特に決まった形がなく、太鼓・鉦（カネ）・三味線・篠笛による「ぞめき囃子」と言われる二拍子の軽快なリズムに合わせ、それぞれのグループが個性のある踊りを見せる。“奴だこ”を模した激しい動きをする「奴（やっこ）踊り」など様々な踊り方があるのが面白い。
踊りたくなった場合には、当日無料で飛び入り参加ができる「にわか連」が用意されており、有名グループの踊り子に指導を受け祭りに参加することもできる。