Awa Odori, Japan's signature summer dance festival, opens with 600 dancers

TOKUSHIMA, Japan (Kyodo) -- The Awa Odori, Japan's signature summer dance festival, kicked off on Tuesday in Tokushima Prefecture. Approximately 600 dancers from prominent local troupes showcased their skills in a joint performance at a hall. The inaugural day included three dance shows. One performance particularly impressed the audience when the dancers descended from the stage into the spectator area, eliciting loud applause and cheers.

Open-air performances, the festival's most renowned aspect, commence on Wednesday and continue through Saturday. During these street performances, groups of dancers move to lively traditional music, according to the organizer.

Yasuko Kawamura, a 74-year-old participant who played the shamisen, a traditional three-stringed Japanese instrument, expressed her efforts and nerves. She mentioned, "We practiced every night until around 10 p.m. while juggling work and other responsibilities. I gave it my all but was nervous, so I'd rate it about 70 points."

Hiroshi Hirai, a 68-year-old visitor from Yokohama who attends the festival annually, noted that the performers radiated energy and had clearly put in a lot of practice.