国家地理:盂兰盆节的“醉汉舞”

Celebrations in honour of the dead take place in July and August in Japan. Prayers are set and graves are tended during the festival of O-Bon. In Tokushima city around 100 thousand costumed people dance in the streets.
"This is an incredible scale, there's this whole river, thing going on, there's three blocks on either side of the river. It’s the biggest I've ever seen."
There are a number of different theories explaining the origins of Tokushima’ s Awa Odori(阿波踊り) or "our dance festival". But some see it as a form of the wider Japanese custom of Bon Odori (盆踊) or Bon-dance.
"Awa Odori began around 450 years ago. It was originally a regional custom performed decent spirits back to the realms of the dead after their brief stay in the living world during the O-Bon season. Now participation isn't limited to the people of Tokushima city or Tokushima prefecture. It has grown into a festival that attracts people from all over Japan."
Awa is the former name of the Tokushima prefecture and the dance festival is thought to have gained its local character in 1587 when the feudal lord handed out sake to celebrate the completion of his newly-built castle. Legend says the citizens became so drunk they started to dance with abandon in an unsteady gate. One of Tokushima's most famous dance teams is called the Ahou Ren.
"The lyrics of one of the festival songs says fool's dance and fool's watch. If both are fools you might as well dance. So I think that this is where our Ren gets its name."
For the most part, women wear traditional straw hat, known as amigasa (編み笠) that is shaped like a half moon. A colorful yukada (浴衣)and wooden sandals known as gata(木屐).
"Men should dance in a very masculine way. Women should dance in a feminine and graceful way."
Onna Odori (女踊り), the female dance style, is distinguished by its upright stance and physical discipline and it's intended to an embodiment of feminine grace and beauty.
By contrast, Otoko Odori(男踊り), the male dance style, is distinguished by a lower stance and more fluid vigorous movements and resemble the moves of a drunken fool.
"It's extremely fun, you know, Japanese are not known for this spontaneity, but you see people very spontaneous and people are approaching you in the street and asking you where you are from and getting to know you, which is extremely welcoming to visitors."
在日本，七月和八月份举行庆祝活动以纪念去世的人。在盂兰盆节其间，会为死去的人祈祷扫墓。在日本的德岛市，大约10万人身着节日盛装载歌载舞。
“这个规模是让人难以置信的，沿着整条河，三个街区，河两岸都站满了人。这是我见过的最大的场面。”
关于Awa Odori“阿波踊”或者“舞蹈的节日”的起源有着不同的说法。但是有人把这个节日作为日本的传统Bon Odori (盆踊) 或者 Bon-dance。
“Awa Odori起源于大约450年以前。起初是一个宗教的节日，在私人的领地为他们超度尚在人间的正直的灵魂。现在并不只是德岛市的人次参加这个节日。现在这个节日吸引力整个日本的人。”
Awa是德岛管区之前的名字，舞蹈的节日在1587年就开始，最初是封建主为了庆祝自己新建成的城堡而举行的。有传说说，人们烂醉如泥，开始在一个不固定的门上没有任何顾忌地跳舞。德岛市最著名的一个舞蹈队叫做Ahou Ren。
“其中一首节日歌曲的歌词说，傻瓜跳舞傻瓜看。如果都是傻瓜的话，你或许也会跳舞。所以我认为这就是Ren的来源。”
对于大部分人来说，妇女们戴着传统的草帽，叫做編み笠，形状就像半月。还穿着彩色的浴衣和木屐。
“男人跳到舞必须非常有阳刚之气。女性则必须非常阴柔，非常优雅。”
Onna Odori (女踊り), 是女性化的舞蹈风格，主要特点是步法非常正直，意在体现女性的优雅和美丽。
相反，Otoko Odori(男踊り), 是男性的舞蹈风格，脚踏处比较低，看上去比较像醉汉。
“真的非常有趣，你知道，日本人以自发性著称，但是你可以看到人们在大街上靠近你，问你来自哪里，开始认识你，他们非常欢迎来自外地的游客。”