I have a tinge of sadness to be leaving Tokushima, i would really like to be staying here a few more days in this relaxed and friendly sea front city. After all, there are another two more days Awa O Dori partying to do!!.

According to the locals, ever since Tokushima castle was built, there have been yearly celebrations. The electric, enticing and buzzing ~matsuri~ is one of, if not Japan's biggest!. Where else would you see a former Prime Minister (Mori-san) and world famous beauty queen, the lovely, warm and charming Hiroko-chan with her mom and nan, rubbing shoulders and dancing with the locals. I cannot stress enough how friendly and welcoming the locals are, how full of energy the night is.

Upon arrival we were stripped and dressed by our dance troupe leaders at lightning speed within the walls of the castle. Standing in my boxer shorts, in plain public, five guys tugging and pulling at my attire, surrounded by scores of flashing photographers, is a memory i will certainly not easily forget.
After a crash course of small inward steps at 45 degree angles, flat palms in karate pose, tiptoeing with crouched back, we shuffled in our traditional ~Zori~ sandals and ~Happi~jackets to the main fairway. With 350 troupe members dancing in unison, left and right musicians, only live raw music, ~shamisen~ ~taiko~ ~yokobue~ (three-stringed guitar/drums/wooden flute), we crossed the start line and into a floodlit arena of thousands of people. To be honest i was a bit shy, but each time i looked up people gave us thumbs up, clapped and laughed at our effort, next to me smiles and winks of encouragement by fellow dancers in their 70's and 80's. We in fact stayed the rest of the evening, even after filming, and continued with our troupe, as they performed at the various fairways across the city in one huge party. Certainly a night to remember, one i will never forget...'can i come back next year?'.
The lights, the sounds,the elaborate varied costumes, the colours really touched my soul, my heart jumped and body shook, i could feel the rythmn, i felt so alive!!..