The Azakano Bo Odori is one of the folk performing arts called "Bo Odori," which is a “Furyu” style of dancing with staves. It is said to have originated in the Satsuma province during the Keicho era (1596-1615), and is still found throughout Kumamoto, Kagoshima, and Miyazaki Prefectures. The staves used in the Bo Odori dance are usually 183cm long and have the same characteristics as the staves of the sacred tools possessing divine power. It is believed that waving or hitting the staves together has the effect of calming or exorcising evil spirits.