On May 2 and 3, there was a big traditional dance event at Expo 2025 in Osaka. Around 700 dancers performed the "Awa Odori" dance. About 10,000 people joined in for one big circle dance at the end.

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The Tokushima Prefecture government organized this event. They did this to celebrate "World Dance Day."

The dancers were in nine groups. Each group showed their dance to the visitors. They danced beautifully with drums, Japanese flutes, and other instruments making special music called "Zomeki-bayashi."

On the night of May 3, all dancers came together for the final dance at a place in the Expo called Expo Arena "Matsuri." This arena is outside, and 16,000 people can watch there. The dancers made a very big circle together with people from the audience. The circle looked like the Expo's well-known building, the "Grand Ring." About 10,000 people joined in this circle.

Minoru Yamada, 71, from the Awa Odori Promotion Association, was one of the dancers. He also danced at another Expo in Osaka in 1970. He said, "Dance does not need words. It was great to see the circle become bigger and everyone dance together."

(Japanese original by Yoshihiro Yamamoto, Tokushima Bureau)

Vocabulary

Expo: A big event where many countries show culture or technology.

traditional: Old or special things from a country's culture.

audience: People who watch a show or performance.

instruments: Things we use to make music, like drums or flutes.

circle: A round shape where people stand together.