One of Japan's leading summer festivals, "Awa Odori", which colors the summer of Tokushima, will be held for four days from the 12th to the 15th.

It is the first time in three years that the event will be held on a large scale.



The largest event in Tokushima, which was once said to attract 1 million tourists.


The city of Tokushima, ahead of the festival, is not only expected to be lively and economic, but also anxious about the new corona.

Expectations to be the “largest” for the first time in three years

The sounds of the musical accompaniment that resounds until around 9:00 every night, and the people of Ren, who practice their dances.



From the beginning of August, the atmosphere of the festival is heightening at once in the streets of Tokushima City as work progresses on setting up seats and paper lanterns.

This summer, with no restrictions on movement, in July, Japan's leading festivals, such as Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and Fukuoka's Hakata Gion Yamakasa, will be held for the first time in three years on a scale similar to that before the corona crisis. is coming back.



In Tokushima Prefecture, the number of people infected with the new coronavirus increased sharply from mid-July, and although the executive committee considered reducing the scale of the Awa Odori, it was finally decided to hold it on the "largest scale."



The year before was canceled, and last year's event was held on a smaller scale, so it will be the first time in three years that the "largest scale" with a box seat in the city will be held.

Hotels and inns continue to be fully booked

The lodging and restaurant industries have the highest expectations for the long-awaited revitalization.



As hotels and inns in the center of Tokushima City were fully booked one after another, a special campground was opened for those who could not secure accommodation.



Before the corona crisis, campsites like this were set up every year, and in many years more than 1,000 people used them, but this is the first time in three years that tourists have not been able to secure accommodation.

(Mr. Allen Miyamoto, a management organization of the campground)


"I was forced to cancel for two years, so I'm really excited to finally be able to hold it."

Anxiety about the 7th wave

On the other hand, anxiety is the 7th wave of the new corona.



Even after the "largest" event was decided, the momentum of the spread of infection did not weaken, and the number of infected people announced on the 1st in Tokushima Prefecture exceeded 1,000 for the first time on August 7th.



Major airlines are already seeing an impact on passenger bookings.

Before the corona disaster, the flight from Tokyo to Tokushima was almost full just before the Awa Odori, so we expected that reservations for this year would recover to the same level.



However, as of July, only about 70% of the total reservations have been filled.



In consideration of the infection situation, the performance of Awa Odori, which has welcomed tourists at Tokushima Airport, has been cancelled.

A representative group of dancers called famous ren performed at the front entrance of the airport only during the Obon period.

(All Nippon Airways Tokushima Branch Oyama Kaori Branch Manager)


“In the 7th wave, the number of infected people is unexpectedly large and there are cancellations.

Influence also supports the dance

Anxiety about the spread of infection is also affecting the people who support the dance.



Masako Mima, who runs a beauty salon in Naruto City and has been working on training young hairdressers.

In addition to being a beautician, she has been dressing dancers for about 40 years.



She used to dress up about 150 people during the period, mainly for cruise ship tourists who called at the port according to the Awa Odori, but this year's reservation is one-third of that.



It is said that not only tourists but also companies' dance groups often refrain from participating, and it is said that it is only halfway to regain the enthusiasm of the past.

(Ms. Masako Mima)


"I don't feel like everyone is really taking part in this year's event either. I feel like 'there is Awa Odori, but...' so I think there aren't many dancers. I can't read it yet." Will



the heat after 3 years return?


Summer in Tokushima is about to begin in anticipation and anxiety.