"Summer without dance" Possibility of closing business 30% of the impact July 16 18:51

"Yat Sat, Yat Yat!!"

Summer in Tokushima. A lively dancer's screams and peculiar musical accompaniments such as crows and whistles called "Zomeki" echo throughout the city.

Awa Odori, one of Japan's representative summer festivals, is held every year on Obon. A beautiful and supple woman dance, and a lively and dynamic man dance. Many people from all over the country try to see "Dancing Ah," and the city of Tokushima is filled with excitement and enthusiasm once a year.

However, this Awaodori dance in Tokushima City was canceled for the first time after the war due to the influence of the new coronavirus.

"Summer without dance". It casts a serious shadow on the local economy. (Tokushima Broadcasting Station Awa Odori coverage group reporter Goichi Miyahara Yuichi Mutsuda Mei Ogihara)

Impact of "30% possibility of considering business closure"

How serious is the impact of the cancellation of the Awaodori on the economy?

In collaboration with the private-sector think tank "Tokushima Economic Research Institute", we conducted an urgent questionnaire survey on 166 accommodation facilities in 11 cities and towns in and around Tokushima.

As a result, after the announcement of the cancellation of the Awaodori in April, the total number of people who canceled their accommodation was over 12,000. It turns out that the loss is over at least 200 million yen.

Furthermore, if the situation does not improve as it is, 30% of the facilities answered that they may consider closing the business.

“I am uncertain every day, and I am anxious.”
“If this situation continues, it will be impossible to continue management .”

There were many compelling voices in the free description section.

I visited a hotel in the center of Tokushima city, where I received a serious voice from the questionnaire.

What I showed you was the accommodation book of last year, which was packed full of reservations, and a book that remained pure white.

Every year at this hotel, 90 guest rooms were full 4 months ago during the Awaodori period. However, Kotoshi has been canceled one after another after the announcement of the Awaodori cancellation, and even about a month ago, only about 20% of business customers and so on have made reservations.

It is also the time of Obon, and the room rate per room is about double the usual price.

The cancellation loss is said to be about 10 million yen.

Loss is not limited to accommodation. Every year during the Awa Odori, many banquets and alumni parties were held to welcome returnees, leading to a large sales.

Manager Lakaku Kashiwa talked about the pain in his heart.

Hotel Sunshine Tokushima Ladder Manager
“I've been cleaning things that I can't normally do, but it's been shiny here and there for over 3 months. I cleaned the air conditioner twice and turned the bed pad over to clean it. It is the first time I've been born in the summer when there is no Awaodori dance, and I can't rely on loans from banks forever, and I'm thinking of closing down in my mind.”

Impact on Shikoku tourist spots

The economic impact of the cancellation of the Awaodori is spreading to other areas of Shikoku.

Kotohira Town, Kagawa Prefecture, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Shikoku, where Kompira-san Shrine, nicknamed Konpira-san, is located.

At a hot spring inn that is close to 2 hours by car from Tokushima City, reservations for group guests from all over the country such as the Tokyo metropolitan area are canceled one after another. This is because the bus tour to stay at the inn, visit Konpira-san and see the Awa Odori cannot operate.

Mr. Masanobu Takagi, Director, Kotokaku Cabinet
"It is a big hit when I make the most money in Obon. Among the customers from afar, there are many people who travel around Shikoku, such as Tokushima and Kotohira, Dogo Onsen, Kochi. Therefore, I think that the cancellation of the Awaodori will affect the sightseeing spots in Shikoku as a whole.''

Ripples spreading across industries

Further coverage has revealed that the impact is not limited to the tourism industry.

“We make socks so that the dancers can dance easily, and our industry only sees their feet when they go to a dance tour.”

This is what Kenji Izumi, the third generation of tabi maker in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, famous for whirlpools, speaks to.

We have produced 10,000 pairs of tabi every year, where many people buy 10 pairs a year. It is said that 40% of the company's sales were products for Awa Odori.

The socks made by this manufacturer are characterized by having the bottom cushioned with the rubber used for car tires. It has supported the very feet of the dancers of the men's dance, which makes intense movements.

However, this time the production line stopped. The workshop was dusty and the inventory was heavily piled up.

In order to make up for a little income, we have also started manufacturing masks that use tabi fabrics, but due to competition from major companies, orders have declined, and company sales have fallen by 80% from last year.

Kenji Izumi, President of Izuri Kogyo
“If a major company does it, it will not be able to compete. It is a life and death problem if there is no Awa dance. I want to clench my teeth and do my best until the next year's dance begins”

Hairdressers, who have been dressed in gorgeous costumes for dancers, are also a headache. The beauty salon, which has three stores in Tokushima Prefecture, was full of reservations every year during the Awaodori festival.

Among them, the passengers of the cruise ships that made successive calls at this time accounted for the largest sales.

About 50 passengers who participate in the dance are dressed in yukata and the daily sales are 250,000 yen. This year lost all of his income.

Mako Masa Mima, President, Core Feel
"It's a big blow. I wear clothes every day. I don't think we're the only one suffering, so I'm thinking about how to break it down."

"Efforts to Minimize the Impact of Festival Cancellation"

The seriousness of the impact on the local economy that was visible through the interview.

Experts point out that traditional summer festivals, such as the Awaodori festival, involve a wide variety of industries, so efforts to minimize their impact on the economy are urgent.

Hideaki Motoki, Senior Researcher, Tokushima Institute of Economic Research
"Because it has spread to all industries, such as a laundry shop for washing the dancer's yukata and a parking lot operator, the impact of the cancellation of the Awaodori on the local economy I think that it is more serious than the survey.In the future, if the accommodations are closed down one after another, it may not be able to accept tourists even if the corona ends, so the impact of the cancellation of this year will not be dragged to the next year It is important to take action with a sense of speed.''

The monologue of a veteran dancer who wants to dance next year

During the interview, I met an 81-year-old man who continues to live his life with Awa Odori.

This man has been the head of a group of dancers called "ren" for more than half a century. I muttered, regretfully, about the reality of Awa Odori.

Tonosama Ren Kiyoshi Sasada
"Awaodori is everything for me. If I didn't dance, I wouldn't be myself anymore."

On a gloomy night in Tokushima, the melody of "Zomeki" is always heard from nowhere. If you follow the direction in which you can hear the sound, you will see people practicing the dance unwaveringly.

However, now, the sound of "Zomeki" does not echo and there is no figure of the dancing person. Next year, I want you to hold the Awaodori festival and regain your smile and enthusiasm throughout the city. It is also our wish to interview.

Tokushima Broadcasting Station reporter
Goichi Miyahara
Joined in 2008
Okayama station, and after working in the social department, Tokushima station militia cap. His specialty is disaster. Obtained a disaster prevention qualification in Tokushima in preparation for the Nankai Trough earthquake.

Tokushima Broadcasting Station reporter
Yuichi Rokuda
Joined the company in
2013 and worked as a Tokushima station migrant reporter after working at Matsue station. Sharply interview the problems that the region has. An international school that deals with English.

Tokushima Broadcasting Station reporter
Mei Ogiwara In charge of the Tokushima municipal administration at the Tokushima station where
he joined the company in 2019
. I dare to collect data without compromising even the guts I put into Kendo.

NHK Tokushima Broadcasting Station "Summer without Dance"

Click here for details