Having settled in Japan for a year now, I have been to a couple of festivals throughout the seasons. It didn't take me long to realise that there is always a festival happening somewhere, whether it is in a small town or in big cities, where they attract an international crowd. Having missed out on most of the Obon festivities last year, I found my way to Tokushima for the Awa odori festival during the Obon period this year. Obon period is the season where most people commemorate their ancestors by visiting their graves and making food offerings at altars and/or temples. Lanterns are hung in front of houses to guide the spirits home and obon dances (bon odori 盆躍り) are performed, accompanied by traditional music played on instruments. The festival took place over four days, from 12 to 15 August, with different dance groups (known as 'ren', 連) taking their dances to the grounds, in shopping streets and along the Shinmachi river. Bon odori is a dance praying for the spirits of the deceased. Tokushima Prefecture has its own unique bon odori style. This local dance received much influence from the Shoryo prayer dances in the past, in which people danced in circles together while chanting and praying. There were several types of dances in the Edo period (1603-1868). However, a particular one known as Zomeki (騒き), a lively and noisy dance, became popular because anyone could join freely in dancing. After the Meiji period (1868-1912), the Zomeki dance and rhythms started to express various changes. The dance was then transformed and has become the mainstream Bon odori style in Tokushima today. I really like how festivals are organised in Japan, involving large groups of people from all walks of life, be it volunteers who work behind the scenes, group performers as well as the street stall (yatai, 屋台) vendors.
Festivals are primarily events facilitating community bonding, seeking to create a stronger identity, and promoting tourism outside of the prefecture. It's September and that means... the next round of festivals is about to begin, celebrating the bountiful harvest received. (Well, there is always something to celebrate and be thankful for in our lives. :D)
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