Animated Pictograms

Fun and easy-to-understand presentation of historical culture and traditional customs that are uniquely Japanese.

  • VISIT TO TEMPLE / SHIRINE
  • BOWING
  • POUNDING RICE CAKE
  • HAILING A CAB / TAXI
  • TAKING A BATH
  • WATER ABLUTION
  • TEA CEREMONY
  • RHYTHMIC CLAPPING AT CELEBRATIONS
  • RIDING THE TRAIN
  • WINNING MOVES IN SUMŌ
  • AWA DANCE FESTIVAL
  • Coming Soon

About The Project

EXPERIENCE JAPAN PICTOGRAMS were developed to provide visual support for tourists in Japan.
For more information about the objectives and design concept of the project, please click here.

Request

If you would like us to create new PICTOGRAMS for you or have other requests, please contact us here.

AWA DANCE FESTIVAL

阿波おどり[AWA-ODORI]

Awa Odori is a dance festival with a history of over 400 years held annually from August 12 to 15 in Tokushima Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. The festival attracts more than a million spectators every year. Dancers and musicians dressed in yukata (summer kimono) dance through the streets. The otoko-odori (masculine dance) is a forceful dance with a low crouch, while the onna-odori (feminine dance) is an elegant dance wearing amigasa hats. In recent years, women energetically dancing the masculine dance captivate the audience as well. As the Tokushima saying goes, “Foolish to dance, foolish to watch. If both are fools, might as well dance!” Whether it be music or sports, Eriko would rather try activities herself, instead of watching—staying true to the wisdom of her home prefecture, Tokushima.