Tokyo’s Koenji Awa Odori started off as a festival to revitalize the small shopping streets throughout Koenji in 1957. One performance typically lasts between 10 and 20 minutes, which might sound short but try 10 minutes of walking in a squad-like position and you’ll know it is in fact quite hard. One aspect of Awa Odori its’ magic charm is the rich variety and dazzling dance performances that have grown from this simple dance. The women’s dance requires some practice and good balancing skills they have to lean forwards and put their weight onto their toes while wearing raised geta sandals. In addition, each dance team, known as ren, creates their own unique performances. But as is often the case, it is much harder than it looks especially when the pace is picking up.
The dance itself might look easy at first, you only need to raise your hands and lead with the same hand and foot as you move forward.
You can recognize the different ren’s by the colors and patterns of their clothing. All participants are wearing traditional Japanese clothing and accessories, women wear a yukata and men are wearing a yukata or happi, both are wearing traditional socks. Lastly, there are the women performing the men’s dance. Secondly, the women’s dance performed by women who dance on the traditional raised geta sandals wearing the iconic braided hats, while dancing they will chant continuously “ yatto sa yatto yatto” which translates to “How are you? I am fine”. There are three different types of dancing: firstly, the men’s dance where men dance low to the ground, leaning forwards.
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