This channel introduces the traditional Japanese dance and music of 'Awa Odori,' a tradition that has been passed down for over 400 years and is performed in streets, squares, and stages. Dancers belong to teams called 'ren,' each of which entertains the audience with unique performances and costumes. The dance comprises various parts, including the 'men's dance,' 'women's dance,' and 'children's dance.’
The women's dance involves wearing an 'ami-gasa' woven hat, a yukata, and tying a 'susoyoke' around the lower body to lift the yukata. Despite wearing cumbersome 'geta' sandals, they mesmerize the audience with graceful movements and group beauty while maintaining a smile.
Awa Odori is accompanied by live music played by musicians known as 'narimono.' As the quality of the performance greatly affects the visual appeal of the dance, music plays a crucial role.
Thanks for watching. Off-screen, there’s probably a guy handling the gong who says, “Let's start,” while the guy in the center of the screen uses a fan to point and says, “This is the center mark for the dance,” to the dancers around him. The woman on the left side of the screen is pointing to the pink part of her yukata and saying, “Pink, pink,” to the audience, likely some friends who came to watch. Normally, we wouldn’t hear this kind of small talk, so it feels odd. I have no clue why she did that.
There are various theories about the origins of Awa Odori, so it's hard to say definitively where it began. But it's safe to say it's spread nationwide. Many say it started in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture, but others claim Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, as its birthplace. I once attended a gathering where a grad student talked about "Awa Odori and regional revitalization." She reported that "festivals using Awa Odori" are held in 63 places across Japan's 47 prefectures. Her presentation focused on the economic benefits of Awa Odori, noting that many places where it's danced aren't counted, so there are likely even more places enjoying Awa Odori than reported. Some of the most famous Awa Odori events are in Tokushima City (Tokushima Prefecture), Koenji (Tokyo), and Minami-Koshigaya (Saitama). For instance, the Koenji Awa Odori draws 10,000 dancers and a million spectators over two days at the end of August, making it one of Tokyo's biggest events. If you get the chance, it's worth checking out and makes for a great conversation starter.
Thank you for taking a look. Awa Odori is danced all over Japan. It's most popular during the summer season, with famous places including Tokushima City in Tokushima Prefecture, Tokyo's Koenji, and Minami-Koshigaya in Saitama Prefecture.
The Japanese celebrate femininity and masculinity and they live just fine, free from problems and conflict unlike in the West with their obsession with gender ideology and all the problems and disharmony this brings.
