A total of 1,000 spectators are allowed to enter each day, and the event involves both physical stages and online performances. Holding this event while creating guidelines in keeping with this new normal was necessary to be able to hold the Awa Odori festival next year.'Ī separate event hosted by the Tokushima Prefectural Government and the prefectural tourism association called the New Normal Awa Odori Festival will also be held in the city of Tokushima on Dec. (Mainichi/Kazuki Yamazaki)Īlthough the test event was held amid a nationwide spike in coronavirus infections, Tokushima Mayor Sawako Naito commented, 'There have been about one or two infections recorded daily in Tokushima. Performers are seen dancing with masks on during a test event for an Awa Odori traditional dance festival, which was held while taking preventative measures against the new coronavirus, such as having spectators and performers maintain distance from one another, in the western Japan city of Tokushima on Nov. They were seen enjoying the event while applauding and taking pictures of the performers. Awa is the oldest name of Tokushima and Odori means dance when it combined two words together which means Dance of Tokushima. Awa Odori is the largest dance festival in Japan. I'd like the festival to be held next year, even if the number of spectators is limited.'Īudience members underwent temperature checks and sat while keeping three seats vacant on either side of them. Awa Odori is held from 12 to 15 August as part of the Obon festival in Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku in Japan. Oka commented, 'Although it was tough with masks on, it was all the more enjoyable as we weren't able to perform this summer. The dancers were all smiles, with the male performers showing brilliant, deft hand movements while the women displayed graceful, synchronized dances.

Hideaki Oka, 79, the head of Awa Odori group Gojyahei, said that although it is customary for performers to dance in five rows at Aibahama Park, it was changed to three rows in the event so that they can dance while maintaining distance from one another. Performers are seen dancing with face shields on during a test event for an Awa Odori traditional dance festival, which was held while taking preventative measures against the new coronavirus, such as having spectators and performers maintain distance from one another, in the western Japan city of Tokushima on Nov.

2020 awa dance festival