 Most viewed - Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance 白鷺の舞 |
I also saw the White Heron Dance in April 2010. It was slightly different. My YouTube video of the White Heron Dance in April 2010.353 views
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White Heron dancers were silent and sang nothing as the musicians played.244 views
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Shirasagi-no-Mai dancer at Asakusa.243 views
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Their costume is quite elegant whichever way you look at it. Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance, Asakusa.240 views
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The Shirasagi-no-Mai white heron dancers pass through Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa.228 views
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Clearing the way down Nakamise. On the way back, they turned right into another temple and did not go all the way down Nakamise. 208 views
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White Heron Dance, Asakusa207 views
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White Heron Dance, Asakusa197 views
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Information on the date/time when the dance is held is posted at e-asakusa.jp. Note that the time may vary. Last year they started at 3:30 pm instead of 2:30 pm this year.183 views
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The Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance is performed in Asakusa on the second Sunday of April and on Nov. 3. On April 11, 2010, I found them on the main road at around 2 pm. The mans holds a banner reading "Shirasagi-no-Mai."151 views
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This is on the main road in front of Kaminarimon Gate (giant red paper lantern). The procession occupied one lane of road as they headed for Kaminarimon Gate.145 views
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The shirasagi white heron dancers. There are eight of them. They were to perform the dance at 2:30 pm in front of Sensoji (Asakusa Kannon) temple.143 views
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White Heron Dance (Shirasagi-no-Mai) was performed three times in Asakusa on April 13, 2014. Their second performance was held here on the roof of Matsuya Dept. Store at 2:30 pm.142 views
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The baton twirler does his thing as the crowd gathers around.128 views
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The Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance is performed in Asakusa on the second Sunday of April, mid-May for the Sanja Matsuri, and on Nov. 3.127 views
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Shirasagi dancers along Nakamise after passing through Hozomon Gate.125 views
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White heron dancer on a mural at Asakusa Station.125 views
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The bird feeder (esa-maki 餌まき) holds a nice box containing pieces of colored paper.124 views
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Shirasagi dancers proceeding back to Nakamise.124 views
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If you look at their white heron costume, you can see that it's quite ingenius, the way it functions and the way it looks.122 views
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Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance at Asakusa.121 views
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The procession, headed by chigo children, pass through Kaminarimon Gate.120 views
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There are various characters in the White Heron Dance contingent. This is the baton twirler (bo-furi 棒ふり) in orange pants followed by the bird feeder.120 views
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120 views
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Fingers fastened to the wings control the wings.120 views
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Close-up of the heron head.120 views
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120 views
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The local Asakusa tourist association resurrected the dance in 1968. A picture scroll showed that it was performed in 1652 at Sensoji.120 views
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The dancers leave Sensoji.118 views
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I'm not sure how they keep the tall bird head and neck on their heads.117 views
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The contingent pass through Hozomon Gate which is right in front of Sensoji temple.117 views
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Another shirasagi shadow.117 views
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Shirasagi dancers spreading their wings.116 views
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For their third and last performance at 3:30 pm on April 13, 2014, they they walked/danced through the Nakamise mall leading to Sensoji temple in Asakusa. The man is the baton twirler, followed by the bird feeder and the dancers.116 views
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This is the umbrella holder (ogasa 大傘). He doesn't really shade anyone.115 views
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Bird feeder on the left sprinkled some colorful pieces of paper as bird feed. They dance to music played by 19 musicians.115 views
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At around 2:30 pm, they started dancing.114 views
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There are eight white heron dancers. The dance originated at Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto about 1,000 years ago to ward off epidemics and pray for good harvests.114 views
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There are also three warriors who never did anything. 武人113 views
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Musicians float. They are playing music all the while.112 views
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These guardian children lead the way. They come from Sensoji Kindergarten. 守護童子112 views
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Be sure to see my video of the White Heron Dance held on April 13, 2014.111 views
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111 views
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The bird feeder sprinkles more food for the birds.109 views
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Bird feeder and umbrella holder. 餌まき,108 views
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Immediately, I noticed the great shadows the dancers were casting. Proof of how good the costumes are made and how well they are posed.108 views
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The dance started with the baton twirler running around the dancers.108 views
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It looks like they are feeding.108 views
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So elegant.108 views
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White heron dance in front of Sensoji temple. 108 views
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108 views
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A short break after the dance.108 views
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Tourist posing with a dancer after the dance.108 views
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The white heron dancers bow before Sensoji temple before leaving.108 views
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These guardian children headed the procession. They come from Sensoji Kindergarten. 守護童子108 views
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The bird feeder then sprinkled small pieces of colored paper above the white heron dancers.107 views
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During a brief break, people gawk at the dancers. This was when I talked to one of them.107 views
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A gasp of amazement from spectators could be heard when the dancers spread their wings.107 views
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White herons are a common sight in Japan. They do like to feed on rice fields.107 views
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I was told that they practice the dance only a few days before the performance. Apparently, it's not that difficult to master. It also seems that different dancers do it each time.106 views
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At the end of the dance, they bowed.106 views
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This is what the "bird feed" was. Colored pieces of paper with the kanji characters for "good fortune" and "long life." No wonder people were rushing to pick these up. Well, I guess I'll live a long and prosperous life..106 views
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Tourists make way for the white heron dancers along Nakamise mall in Asakusa.106 views
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106 views
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Toward the end of the procession is a group of musicians, 19 of them (楽人). Some of them walk while the others ride a float.105 views
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Once in a while, the shirasagi dancers spread their wings and do a few dance steps along the narrow Nakamise shopping arcade.105 views
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They walked to the area in front of the 5-story pagoda. 105 views
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105 views
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105 views
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Passing under Hozomon Gate in front of Sensoji temple. Gotta watch their head.105 views
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105 views
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105 views
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They head toward Sensoji temple as the crowd make way for them along Nakamise.104 views
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The shirasagi dancers then spread their wings and started to dance.104 views
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104 views
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The White Heron Dance originated in Kyoto over 1,100 years ago to purge the city of an epidemic.102 views
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The eight shirasagi dancers formed two groups of four with the umbrella holder between the two groups.102 views
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Most of the dancers seemed to be high school age, although I noticed a few older women as well.102 views
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Each shirasagi dancer bowed to Sensoji (being renovated) before heading back to Nakamise.102 views
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101 views
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Then there was a rush of people to pick up the "bird feed" which were small colored pieces of paper. I didn't know what was going on, but I rushed in too and grabbed two of the pieces of paper.100 views
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After the dance, they proceeded back to where they came from.99 views
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I guess the birds are happy with full stomachs.98 views
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Looks like the bird feeder still had something left in her food box.98 views
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