Awa Dance Festival facts for kids
The Awa Dance Festival is a super exciting event held every year in Tokushima, Japan. It takes place from August 12th to 15th. This festival is a big part of the Japanese Obon festival, which is a time to honor family ancestors. During the Awa Dance Festival, the streets of Tokushima come alive with music and dancing!
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What is the Awa Dance Festival?
The Awa Dance Festival is one of Japan's most famous summer festivals. It happens in the city of Tokushima, located on the island of Shikoku. For four days, thousands of dancers and musicians fill the streets. They perform lively dances for huge crowds of people. It's a celebration of culture, music, and community spirit.
Dancers and Their Outfits
Both men and women take part in the Awa Dance. They wear traditional Japanese clothes called yukata.
- Men often wear a special Japanese towel around their heads.
- Women wear beautiful bamboo hats that add to their graceful movements.
These outfits make the festival very colorful and traditional.
Music and Instruments
The dancers move to lively music played by various instruments. These sounds fill the air all over the city.
- Shamisen: A three-stringed Japanese instrument.
- Flutes: Played to create melodic tunes.
- Gongs: Used for rhythmic accents.
- Drums: Provide the main beat for the dancers.
The music is energetic and makes everyone want to dance along!
Dance Styles and Groups
Men and women have different dance moves, making the performances varied and interesting.
- "Ren" Groups: There are many dance groups called "ren." Each "ren" has its own unique style and choreography. This makes watching the different groups a lot of fun.
- "Niwaka Ren": If you're new to Awa Dance, you can join special groups called "niwaka ren." This means even beginners can jump in and dance with everyone else! It's a great way for visitors to experience the festival firsthand.
The Famous Awa Dance Song
The Awa Dance has a famous song with a catchy phrase that everyone knows: "Odoru ahou ni miru ahou onaji ahou nara odorana son son." This phrase means: "The dancers are fools. The watchers are fools. Both are fools alike so, why not dance?" It's a playful invitation for everyone to join in the fun and not just watch! It encourages people to let loose and enjoy the moment.
Images for kids
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Awa Odori dancers (in Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku)
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The Dance of Fools (in Kōenji, Tokyo)
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A dancer wearing an amigasa hat in Koenji, August 2009
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Awa Odori dancers in tight formation (in Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku)
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Narimono players (鳴り物, Narimono)
