AWA DANCE FESITIVAL in Japan is the most traditional event which was the origin from our "EDO PERIOD" with Samurai's culture. The celebration takes place in August every summer. There are 2 spots in Japan where the Festival is held. One is in "Tokushima" and the other is "Koenji" in Tokyo. The first trigger to start was in 1957. One day on a hot summer day, Young people after finishing their hard working gathered around a small "Pub" at Koenji in Tokyo district and began talking that they needed something energetic and activating to do. Now in Japan, there were many spots for the festivals especially featured "DANCE PERFORMANCE" as "BON DANCE" for example, However, they could not imagine what kind of performance was the most suitable one for this small downtown in Tokyo. Awa dance has already been playing in "TOKUSHIMA" Prefecture in the South of Japanese island.

Awa dancers were invited from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Australia. A dream of an initial overseas expedition got real.

In 1995 for a disaster of Hanshin earthquake, Awa dance was performed in order to save the victims. That was februay in midwinter. That became not only for an entertainment but also the activity to contribute to the society.

The origin of Awa dance is Tokushima. There was a difficulty in vaious ways with starting by a citizen of koenji. It wasn't easy to do a master for traditional dancing for an amateur. They had no instractors who guide them how to dance. That's why they started it by changing the name to foolish dance.

The Japanese inside was excited for a crown prince news to accomplish marriage in 1960. The police gave no persmission to use a road for a dance. A police officer of a traffic arrangement told them if they had danced, they would gone to the jails. However the dance association did not pull and gave up. At worst, they decided the
representative with a sacrifice for a prison.

Congulatulation's message from the mayor in Australia

On behalf of Willoughby City, I would like to extend my congratulations and best wishes to the Awa Odori Association on its 40th Anniversasry for the Koenji Awa Odori festival. I understand that the Festival has become one of Tokyo's most famous and as someone who has experienced sthe delight of the Awa Odori dancers, I can certainly see why the Awa Odori dancers visited us as the establishment of the Friendly city relatioonship between our Willoughby City and Suginamiku in Japan.

These beautiful and colourful performances are the most exciting exhibition in our city, and influenced the audience and the local mass media.
The arts have contrubuted great mutual understanding and enhancing ties between many countries.An art removes a barrier that there exists for various national culture of each countries

Eunice Raymond mayor

Miss Francoise M's message
I send a congratulations to Koenji Awa dance forteenth anniversary commemoration. I love their frank spirit, power, and tempo,which belongs to only Japanese people having been received and succeeded since Edo Period.

Congulatulation's message from the mayor in Australia

On behalf of Willoughby City, I would like to extend my congratulations and best wishes to the Awa Odori Association on its 40th Anniversasry
for the Koenji Awa Odori festival. I understand that the Festival has become one of Tokyo's most famous and as someone who has experienced sthe delight of the Awa Odori dancers, I can certainly asee why