Before the Awa Odori in Tokushima City opened on the 12th, the "Eve Festival" was held on the 11th, and the dancers performed a splendid dance while taking measures against infection.
Tokushima City's Awa Odori will be held in the city for the first time in three years from the 12th.
Prior to this, on the 11th, a dance performance by highly skilled dancers was held at "Asti Tokushima" in Tokushima City as the "Eve Festival", and about 500 people from 34 groups of dancers participated.
The dancers performed splendid women's dances and dynamic and powerful men's dances to the peculiar musical accompaniment "Zomeki" played by flutes and shamisen.
With the spread of the new coronavirus, some dancers danced with covers covering their mouths, and the musicians wore special masks to prevent flying flies.
A spectator who came back from Tokyo said, "I felt that the summer in Tokushima was only possible because of the Awa Odori," and a 2-year-old child said, "It was fun."
Also, a 20-year-old dancer said, "I couldn't work for two years, and I finally started practicing from April. It was hot and hard to practice wearing a mask, but I'm glad I was able to enjoy dancing."
The Awa Odori in Tokushima City starts on the 12th and is performed every day until August 15th at performance halls in the city.