Awa Odori 阿波踊り Awa Dance Festival Japanese Traditional Music

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The Awa Dance Festival (阿波踊り Awa Odori?) is held from 12 to 15 August as part of the Obon festival in Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku in Japan. Awa Odori is the largest dance festival in Japan, attracting over 1.3 million tourists every year.

Groups of choreographed dancers and musicians known as ren (連) dance through the streets, typically accompanied by the shamisen lute, taiko drums, shinobue flute and the kane bell. Performers wear traditional obon dance costumes, and chant and sing as they parade through the streets.

Awa is the old feudal administration name for Tokushima prefecture, and odori means dance.

阿波おどり（あわおどり）は徳島県（旧・阿波国）を発祥とする盆踊りである。日本三大盆踊りのひとつ。約400年の歴史があり、夏季になると徳島県内各地の市町村で開催される。なかでも徳島市阿波おどりは国内最大規模で最も有名であり、四国三大祭りに数えられる。近年では全国各地で行われるようになってきている。