3 more photographs from the Awa Odori festival in Tokushima City.

The first is a dance move which looks similar to the defensive position you see in movies after marines exit their Humvees while under fire.

Awa Odori dancers adopt a classic defensive position.

The second is of a girl wearing a variation on the men’s costume.  (Would have preferred a cleaner background, but it is hopefully out of focus enough not to be distracting.)

Awa Odori Dancer, Tokushima, Japan

Most of the dances took place after dark. As I wasn’t using flash, I had to “rage against the dying of the light” and look for opportunities to use the last remaining shafts of sunlight.

In this shot I prefocused on the shaft of golden light and waited until a dancer entered the frame.

Awa Odori Dancer, Tokushima, Japan