Tokushima Awa Odori Dance Presents at Hong Kong Disneyland
as a key highlight of Japan Autumn Festival
A unique chance to experience different cultures and traditions in the park
during the Hong Kong Japan Tourism Year
The Hong Kong Tourism Board announced 2019 as the "Hong Kong Japan Tourism Year" to promote the development of tourism for both places, and the city is now celebrating the “Japan Autumn Festival in Hong Kong – Rediscovering Nippon” organized by the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong and Japan-related organizations. As part of these celebrations, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) held the Hong Kong Disneyland: Japan Autumn Festival “Tokushima Awa Odori Dance Performance” on November 16 (Saturday). The event saw the Tokushima dance group in Japan perform the traditional Japanese Awa Odori Dance on Main Street U.S.A. at HKDL, which was enjoyed by guests from both Hong Kong and Japan, as well as from all around the world.
Around 300 guests – including representatives from the Consulate-General of Japan, the Tokushima government, other Japanese communities in Hong Kong, and Disney fans – were specially invited to watch the dance performance along with all guests in the park. The HKDL food and beverage team also designed a special menu featuring ingredients from the Tokushima Prefecture which will be offered in the park, offering each and every guest a taste of the traditional Japanese atmosphere at HKDL! The resort aims to provide a magical experience to guests from all over the world, demonstrating its culture of diversity and inclusion.
Stephanie Young, managing director, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, said: “We are proud to join the Japan Autumn Festival in Hong Kong, bringing the renowned Japanese Awa Odori Dance to our guests at the park. Our exclusive Disney experience with Mickey and Friends, Marvel Super Heroes, Duffy and Friends and more, all help provide a warm welcome for our guests from all over the world. Combining this with today’s Japanese Awa Odori Dance performance offers an extraordinary occasion for our guests and local Japanese communities to enjoy. It is truly inspiring to learn from another culture, and we look forward to more opportunities in the future for the promotion of cultural exchange and tourism development.”
The “Japan Autumn Festival in Hong Kong” features over 100 events covering different areas such as movies, performing arts, food and beverage, sports, youth exchange, sales and promotion, and more. This is the first time Tokushima Awa Odori Dance has performed at HKDL.
During the Awa Odori Dance performance, groups of choreographed dancers and musicians are typically accompanied by instruments such as the small gong, taiko drums, shinobue flutes and shamisen lutes, to perform music in a happy and dynamic rhythm. Performers wear traditional obon dance costumes, and chant and sing as they parade through Main Street U.S.A. at HKDL.
Gotoda Hiroshi, Vice Governor of Tokushima Prefecture said: “The Awa Odori Dance has over 400 years of history in Tokushima. We are proud to be one of the highlighted events in the Japan Autumn Festival, and it is the very first time for the local and international guests to watch this performance at HKDL. We hope to bring the joyous Tokushima tradition to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort!”
Mitsuhiro Wada, Ambassador and Consul-General of Japan in Hong Kong, said: “We are happy to see the Awa Odori Dance performance, one of the traditional dances of Japan, here in Hong Kong Disneyland, and we hope it will further promote cultural exchanges between Japan and Hong Kong.”
As a world-class theme park and tourist destination, HKDL attracts guests from all over the world every year, and Japan is one of the resort’s key markets. Many Japanese guests come to HKDL to enjoy staying at Disney themed hotel rooms and suites, meeting beloved Disney characters, trying out the Disney themed F&B, and more. In order to make guests feel more at home, HKDL specially arranges different cast members who can speak in numerous languages to be the cultural ambassadors to cater for the needs of different guests, including Japanese. Besides, HKDL’s website, mobile app and map also provide various languages including Japanese, allowing guests to travel more comfortably and easily.
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
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