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One of Japan's grandest festivals, the Tokushima Awa Odori is a summer dance performed in central Tokushima city. Numerous dance troupes called "ren" appear in a long parade along the city's main streets for four evenings in mid-Aug. About 2 million people see it during the four days it is held. It is like a bon dance to greet the souls of the deceased returning to visit. There are other Awa Odori festivals in Japan, but the one in Tokushima is the original and largest one. "Awa" is the former feudal name of Tokushima. Photo: Entrance to one of the spectator areas called "embujo" (admission charged). 藍場浜演舞場
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Spectator seats. Admission is 1,000 to 2,000 yen.
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Crowds already line Tokushima's main street soon to be closed to traffic.
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These photos were taken in Aug. 1999.
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Pre-festival warm-up performance.
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This was in front of a dept. store near Tokushima Station.
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They performed in the afternoon.
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Tokushima's Awa Odori originated in 1587 to mark the completion of Izan Castle in Tokushima (formerly called Awa Province). The castle lord allowed the people to celebrate and they danced the night away.
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Rear view of a dancer
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Tokushima Awa Odori dancer
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Free Awa odori lessons.
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Lining up for the non-reserved spectator seats.
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The Awa Odori begins before dark.
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All spectator seats were taken.
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Actress Fujita Tomoko heads one dance troupe.
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The festival usually features a celebrity or two. This is actress Fujita Tomoko at the Tokushima Awa Odori.
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My compact camera lens had a flare/halation problem.
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Finally found a seat closer to the road.
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Really hard taking pictures with a small compact camera with no telephoto zoom.
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Tokushima Awa Odori dancer
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Tokushima Awa Odori is also called the "Fool's Dance"
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Tokushima Awa Odori
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Flute player
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Tokushima Awa Odori dancer
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End of the course
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In front of my hotel after the festival ended.This group continued dancing late into the night.
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