12-08-2025
Tokushima City's 5-day Awa Odori dance festival begins
The renowned Awa Odori summer dance festival opened in the city of Tokushima on Monday with a dazzling stage performance.
The five-day event began with a ceremony at a local hall, followed by performances by about 600 dancers from top troupes.
A woman in her 80s who had come from Hyogo Prefecture with her family said she was impressed with the expressive movements.
One of the dancers said she gave her all to showcase the essence of real Awa Odori. She said she will keep dancing with a smile on her face and hopes spectators will have a lot of fun.
From Tuesday, dancers will take the show onto the streets and outdoor stages.
The annual festival draws more than 1 million visitors from across Japan and abroad each year. This year's event will run through Friday.
