The Dancing Fool

Awa Odori is the name of Tokushima's very own traditional dance, as synonymous with this corner of Shikoku as sudachis and whirlpools, and best known as a huge street dancing festival held during Obon in mid-August. The precise timing of the festival varies slightly from town to town, and the style of dance is subtly different from group to group, but the ring of the kane, the trill of the fue, the twang of the shamisen and the rolling thunder of approaching taiko drums are constant reminders of the season every summer. Come August, there's nothing else to do but get amongst the action, so chuck on a yukata, slip into your tabi and grab your chouchin, folks. Summer in Tokushima means Awa Odori! Yattosaaaa! TALK THE TALK Awa Odori terminology and chants WALK THE WALK How to dance Awa Odori HEAR THE HISTORY Or at least read about the origins of the dance GREET THE GROUP Tensui-ren, the group I dance with - all in Japanese! Or you can check out my former group, Minoda-ren. THE DANCING FOOL Why I love it