Leaving Nagasaki, back up north to Honshu and crossing the Seto Inland Sea over to Shigoku.
Then all the way south to Kochii, or Tosa, as it is known by its old name. The last time I was in Shigoku, it was for the Awa Odori Matsuri in Tokushima.
Awa means fool in the local dialect, and the Fools' dance was quite a spectacle. The Yosakoi Matsuri is said to rival the Awa Odori. Yosakoi dancers
usesa pair of wooden flappers and dances to similar music (blaring out of loudspeakers from floats following each group of dancers). Other than these, it's everything goes when it comes to costum and dance steps.
The festivities start in the heat of late afternoon and continue all through the day until 10pm SHARP, when the dancers bid the spectators good night.
I was told at least 80% of the dancers are from Kochii and after 10pm, it's quite a sight to see them on public transport still in their costum amongst spectators in modern attire. A bit like a time warp.
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