My identity

My hometown is in Tokushima(徳島) prefecture, which is located west side of Osaka(大阪).
The most symbolic cultural aspect of Tokushima is "the Awa-odori(阿波踊り)", which is a famous  traditional Japanese dance.

It is said that the Awa-odori in Tokushima has over 400 years of history, and now in many towns all over Japan, Awa-odori festivals are held to stimulate for their local economies.

When I lived in Tokushima, I just enjoyed watching it with my family every summer.

After graduating from high school, I left Tokushima in order to go on to the Osaka-city University.

To tell the truth, at that time I disliked my small hometown because its community was too small and the local people were conservative.

After graduating from University, I tried taking an exam to become a judicial scrivener.
However after working at a small law firm part-time, I decided to change my career.
Then I came to Tokyo in order to work for a web company which was expanding at that time.

I worked very hard every day for that company, however I wanted to find something which I could be absorbed in outside of my job.

One day when I was surfing the Internet, I came across "the Koenji-Awa-odori(高円寺阿波踊り)".

In Koenji, which is located near Shinjuku(新宿), the Awa-odori festival is held every summer.
Actually the Koenji-Awa-odori festival is the most famous and biggest in the Kanto region.

I soon decided which Awa-odori group I would join.

Awa-odori groups are called "Ren(連)", and the dancing style is different in each Ren.
So it was important for me which Ren I chose, because I was fastidious Awa-odori.

I chose one Ren whose dancing style was not so flamboyant, however still classical and beautiful.
In that Ren, I tried doing my best in order to become a good dancer.

However 4 years later, I was kicked out from that Ren, because I complained about their leadership.

At first I wanted to discuss that problem with them, because I believed that we could understand each other better after discussion.

However they said to me that they didn't want to dance with me from that time.

To tell the truth, I also felt something was amiss when comparing the difference in Awa-odori culture between Koenji and my hometown, so I decided to leave that group.

I really got depressed, so I couldn't even enjoy just watching Awa-odori for some time.

Around 2 years later since I sadly stopped dancing, I became a geisha.

By the way, I sometimes talk to my geisha mother and sisters about my hometown in Tokushima and how I used to dance Awa-odori.
However I couldn't imagine that I would dance Awa-odori at an Ozashiki(お座敷).

One day, Oka-san, my geisha mother, requested me to dance Awa-odori in front of our customers.
I was very surprised.

She played the shamisen and I taught some customers how to dance.
After my Awa-odori lesson, the customers and I danced together.

The customers unanimously said to me that my dancing and shouting were very professional.

I thought that my dance skill was not so good, but I was very happy because all of the customers seemed to be happy.

Though I have decided to continue living in Tokyo as a geisha, I realized that I love my hometown and Awa-odori.

It was very amazing experience for me that I could recognize my identity at my working place which is so far from my hometown.

Please check some following links in order to enjoy the Tokushima-Awa-odori.
The Tokushima Awa-odori festival vol.1
The Tokushima Awa-odori festival vol.2
The Tokushima Awa-odori festival vol.3