Awa odori 阿波踊りTokushima Shikoku by Kari Gröhn karigrohn.com karigrohncom

Awa odori 阿波踊りTokushima Shikoku
Awa odori 阿波踊り(Awa Dance Festival) is held from 12 to 15 August as part of the Obon festival in Tokushima prefecture on Shikoku. Awa odori is the largest dance festival in Japan, attracting over 1.3 million tourists every year. Awa is the old name for Tokushima prefecture.
The Awa odori dancing style is believed to have been invented in 1586, when during the party for celebration of new castle, people got so drunk that they started dancing with their hands and arms above their shoulders. This is quite unusual, since most dancing styles in Japan emphasize downward motion. Awa odori is upward oriented.
Men dance in tabi (split-toed socks), while women wear sandals, their heels not touching the ground. The men's dance is aggressive and lively, while the women's dance uses graceful movements. Awa odori is part of the Obon festival held to welcome ancestors back to this world for a few days.
For the men's dance: right foot and right arm forward, touch the ground with toes, then step with right foot crossing over left leg. This is then repeated with the left leg and arm. Whilst doing this, the hands draw triangles in the air with a flick of the wrists, starting at different points. Men dance in a low crouch with knees pointing outwards and arms held above the shoulders.
The women's dance uses the same basic steps, although the posture is quite different. The restrictive kimono allows only the smallest of steps forward but a crisp kick behind, and the hand gestures are more restrained and graceful, reaching up towards the sky. Women usually dance in tight formation, poised on the ends of their geta sandals.
Children and adolescents of both sexes usually dance the men's dance. In recent years, it has become more common to see adult women, especially those in their 20's, dancing the men's style of dance.
Some evidence of the festival's history comes from edicts issued by the Tokushima-han feudal administration, such as this one dating from 1671: The bon-odori may be danced for only three days. Samurai are forbidden to attend the public celebration. They may dance on their own premises but must keep the gates shut. No quarrels, arguments or other misbehaviour are allowed. The dancing of bon-odori is prohibited in all temple grounds.
This suggests that by the 17th century, Awa's bon-odori was a well established as a major event, lasting well over three days - long enough to be a major disruption to the normal functioning of the city. It implies that samurai joined the festival alongside peasants and merchants, disgracing themselves with brawling and unseemly behaviour.
In 1674, it was forbidden for dancers or spectators to carry swords (wooden or otherwise), daggers and poles. In 1685 revellers were prohibited from dancing after midnight and dancers were not allowed to wear any head or face coverings, suggesting that there were some serious public order concerns.
The song associated with Awa odori is called Awa Yoshikono. Dancers and musicians will frequently break out into the Awa Yoshikono chant as they parade through the streets.
踊る阿呆に Odoru ahou ni The dancers are fool
見る阿呆 Miru ahou The watchers are fool
同じ阿呆なら Onaji ahou nara Both are fool alike
so踊らな損、損 Odorana son, son Why not dance?
The dancers also chant hayashi kotoba call and response patterns such as Yattosa, yattosa, Hayaccha yaccha, Erai yaccha, erai yaccha, and Yoi, yoi, yoi, yoi. These calls have no semantic meaning but help to encourage the dancers.
Tokushima Awa Odori by Kari Gröhn karigrohn.com karigrohncom