In early August, I enjoyed one of the most popular dance festivals -- the Awa Odori -- a dance which originated in the Shikoku region of Japan. Fortunately for me, there was an Awa Odori being presented in Kanagawa. Hurray!! ^_^
Please enjoy the photos and videos below:
A group of musicians waiting to move forward along the parade route:
Dancers strike a pose:
Below, is a video of a group of (mostly) male dancers showing their frenzied Awa Odori style:
The Awa Odori dance has 3 unique points:
1. Women wear kimono and a special "half-moon" shaped straw hat, called an amigasa (literally, "a rain umbrella")
2. Male dancers usually carry lanterns or fans while dancing.
3. Musicians follow the dancers and consist of: drummers, cymbalists, flutists, and sometimes, shamisen players (a shamisen is a kind of guitar).
Female dancers in action:
Check out the video below to see the female dancers. Dancing in Japan is nothing like "So You Think You Can Dance" in Canada... ^_^ I loved it.
A sample of the tradtional Awa Odori costume women must wear:
Lanterns carried by group members:
Some groups came from Tokyo, Saitama and Ibaraki to participate in this Kanagawa festival!
I met two foreign women who were dancing; their group represented one of the American military bases in Kanagawa. Next year, I asked if I could join them -- even though I'm Canadian. I think it might be possible. ^_^ YAY!!
~ Information ~
Awa Odori is a must see in Japan. They are so much fun and every Japanese person I have met here has a special place in their heart for this type of dance.
The wiki page about Awa Odori is HERE.
The festival featured in this post is held every summer around Higashi-Rinkan station on the Odakyu-Enoshima line, in Kanagawa. Map HERE. Dates: August 2 ~ 3 (usually -- or the first weekend in August).
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