AWAODORI

Today is MATSURI day in my neighborhood. A lot of people who join to a neighborhood association have prepared early morning. I live in near the Asakusa that is a sacred ground of MATSURI in Tokyo.Because of this,a little festival is practiced in my neighborhood. A lot of group together and dance AWAODORI today.
The AWAODORI's earliest origins of the dance style are found in the Japanese Buddhist priestly dances of Nembutsu-odori and Hiji-odori of the Kamakura Period. The AWAODORI festival grow out of the tradition of the Bon-odori which is danced as part of the Obon that is a festival of the dead.A Japanese BUddhist celebration where the spirits of deceased ancestors are said to visit their living relatives for a few days of the year.The term AWAODORI was not used until the 20th century,but Obon festivities in Tokushima have been famous for their size,exuberance and anarchy since the 16th century.
The song of AWAODORI is called Awa Yoshikono.And this is a localised version of the Edo period popular song Yoshikono Bushi.Parts of it are sung,and others are chanted.The origins of the melodic part have been traced to Kumamoto, Kyusyu, but the AWA version came from Ibaraki Prefecture, from where it spread bach down to Nagoya and Kansai.
During the daytime a restrained dance calld Nagashi is performed. At night the dancers switch to a frenzied dance called Zomeki. As suggested by the lyrics of the chance, spectators are often encouraged to join the dance. Men and women dance in diffelend styles.Men's dance is right foot and right arm forward, touch the ground with toes, then step with right foot crossing over left leg. This is then repeated with the left leg and arm.Women's dance uses the same basic steps.THe restricutive kimono allows only the smallest of steps forward but a crisp kick behind, and the hand gestures are more restrained and graceful, reaching up towards the sky.Women usually dance in tight formation, poised on the ends of their geta sandals.
I don't know why AWAODORI is practiced in my neighborhood. I think it is festival in the provinces. But they are looked very enjoy to this festival and dancing. The seasons will became to summer, a lot of festival are practiced everywhere. I want to go to festival and feel a summer in Japan this year.