Japan summer festivals feature traditional dances like Awa Odori

Summer festivals are currently taking place across Japan, featuring a variety of traditional and regional dances. In Tokushima Prefecture, the iconic Awa Odori festival has commenced with approximately 600 dancers from local troupes performing in indoor showcases. The festival is scheduled to transition to outdoor street performances, where dancers move to traditional music, through Saturday.

Other regional traditions include the Matsuyama Yakyuken Dance in Ehime Prefecture and the Ika Odori, or Squid Dance, in Hakodate, Hokkaido. The Squid Dance, created by volunteers in 1980 to honor local seafood, is noted for its simplicity and drew roughly 20,000 spectators during the Hakodate Port Festival.