Awaodori is the largest and the most famous bon festival dance in Japan, attracting more than 1.3 million visitors from August 12 to 15 every year. Awa is the old name of Tokushima Prefecture, and odori means dance. Every night, groups of dancers dressed in yukata, or light cotton kimono, dance around in the town to the theme song called “Yoshikono” accompanied by three stringed shamisen, flutes, drums and bells.
(阿波踊りは、国内最大で最も有名な盆踊りであり、毎年8月12日〜15日に130万人以 上の人出がある。「阿波」とは、かつての行政区分の名称で徳島県にあたる。毎夜、浴衣を着た踊り子と鳴り物の集団が三味線・笛・太鼓・鐘を伴奏に「よしこの」と呼ばれる歌にあわせて街を踊りまわる)