Photo provided by: Awa Navi

Across Japan, there are numerous traditional festivals that vividly reflect the history and culture of each region. These festivals, steeped in long-standing traditions and unique regional characteristics, attracting many people who are drawn to their charm. In this article, we will explore festival in Tokushima prefecture.

●Awa Odori (Tokushima Prefecture)
With a history of over 400 years, the Awa Odori is a “Bon dance” and one of the largest festivals in Japan that Tokushima boasts to the world. Every year, over a million tourists visit to see it. At the beginning or during the dance, there are call and response chants of “Yatto-sa” and “Ah, Yatto, Yatto”. The enthusiasm grows with these chants, and the sound of the shamisen resonates heats up the summer night. The dance is not only performed by locals but also by participants from all over the country, and its scale and the heat are unrivaled.