Journal Set 1 ( Multi-media Entry)

Awa odori

Here is video about the largest dance festival in Japan, Awa Dancing Festival (Awa Odori). It is held annually on the last Saturday and Sunday of August as part of the Obon festival (Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors) in Tokushima Prefecture.
The festival features a total of 100,000 dancers. People dance in groups called ren. Ren usually contain around 50 people, sometime ren contains nearly than 200 people. I think Awa Odori is very vivid and cheery festival. People are dancing with their friends in harmonious groups. I really want to visit Awa odori, to feel this united atmosphere and take pleasure in dancing with another people.
Here are some details about Awa Odori.
Song: song of Awa Odori, known as the Awa Yoshikono, goes like this:

 Odoru ahou ni                    (The dancers are fools)
Miru ahou                          (The watchers are fools)
Onaji ahou nara                  (Both are fools alike so)
Odorana son, son               (Why not dance?)
Dance: During the daytime a refined dance called Nagashi (Flowing) is performed, but at night  ren (dance groups) dances rabid dance called Zomeki (Aloud).
Men and women dance differently. The women’s steps are airy and  congruous, while the men’s more buoyant and  frantic. Children and adolescents of both sexes dance the men's dance.
Clothing: The female dancers wear yukata (summer kimono), gehta (wooden sandals) and the most specific part of all the festival, semi-circular hats called amigasa. The men and children wear happi, shorts and split-toed tabi socks.

Women wearing amigasa, yukata and gehta.

Girls wearing happi and  tabi.