抄録
The Awa Dance is a festival attracting more than one million tourists in which dancers participate
by forming groups called “Ren.” “Ren” is subdivided into several categories such as “famous groups”
pursuing high-level dancing, and “corporate groups” consisting of the workers of various companies.
The question is whether or not it is worthwhile for the workers to dance in the “corporate groups” by
spending so much time and effort. This study takes up corporate groups, examines their realities and
then tries to clarify the purpose of workers’ participation by conducting a consciousness survey.
As a result, the corporate groups were found to put great importance on participating in the
Awa Dance itself and also to be very generous to the participants on different degrees of practice
and contribution. By questionnaire investigation, the participants were found to feel a sense of
accomplishment and unity and to reconfirm their belongingness, with its effect being extended to the
everyday work.
In comparison with other cases of corporate groups like those of “Yosakoi” family festivals, the
inherent characteristics of the Awa Dance itself seem to be what makes it possible and beneficial for
the cooperate groups to participate in the festival.
