The Awa Dance Festival (阿波踊り, Awa Odori) is held from 12 to 15 August as part of the Obon festival in Tokushima Prefecture on Shikoku in Japan. Awa Odori is the largest dance festival in Japan, attracting over 1.3 million tourists every year.
Groups of choreographed dancers and musicians known as ren (連) dance through the streets, typically accompanied by the shamisen lute, taiko drums, shinobue flute and the kane bell. Performers wear traditional obon dance costumes, and chant and sing as they parade through the streets.
Awa is the old feudal administration name for Tokushima prefecture, and odori means dance.
The earliest origins of the dance style are found in the Japanese Buddhist priestly dances of Nembutsu-odori and hiji-odori of the Kamakura Period (1185-1333), and also in kumi-odori, a lively harvest dance that was known to last for several days.
The Awa Odori festival grew out of the tradition of the Bon odori which is danced as part of the Obon "Festival of the Dead", a Japanese Buddhist celebration where the spirits of deceased ancestors are said to visit their living relatives for a few days of the year. The term "Awa Odori" was not used until the 20th century, but Obon festivities in Tokushima have been famous for their size, exuberance and anarchy since the 16th century.
We're all hell bent on destruction
Trying to erase black spots on our souls
Hide from a violent eruption
Cataclysmic engulfing us all.
Lay down (lay down)
Tonight (tonight)
In front of the things
That conquer us all.
Your body, it taunts me
Your flesh is, oh so haunting.
Chorus:
Children of the night.
Throw your hands up in the air.
We all know we've lost the fight.
Hope dies out and we can see the end.
Black days begin.
Walk down this path of temptation
Deny the flesh ignore whats crawling below.
Stay true (stay true)
Stay cold (stay cold)
In front of the things
That conquer us all!
Your body, it taunts me
Your flesh is, oh so haunting.
Chorus
Solos
Your body, it taunts me
Your flesh is, oh so haunting.