Koenji Awa Odori Dance 高円寺阿波おどり
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Crowd at JR Koenji Station on Awa Odori night.
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The Koenji Awa Odori is basically a parade of dancers. Each dance troupe starts with a lantern bearer showing the name of the troupe.
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The troupe can consist of children (as young as age 2 or 3), women, and men.
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The Koenji Awa Odori has become a major summer festival in Tokyo. It had a humble beginning in 1957 when it was originally called the Koenji Baka Odori. "Baka" means fool.
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One trademark of the dancers is the crescent-shaped straw hats.
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The men look more like the "fools."
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The parade route centers on JR Koenji Station. There are wide and narrow portions of the route.
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It is most crowded along the large avenues. The crowd is several rows deep. Those in the front are expected to sit down.
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The dancers hop on one leg.
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The first Koenji Awa Odori in 1957 had only 57 dancers and about 2,000 spectators. Iroha-ren いろは連
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These days, they have 10,000 dancers from 70 dance groups and over 1 million spectators. Also see the video at YouTube.
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Each dance troupe is called a "ren." This is the Suiko-ren. 吹鼓連
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The dance troupe typically has subgroups of children, women, men, and musicians. Suiko-ren 吹鼓連
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The dancers wear a light kimono and half-moon straw hats.
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Musicians always bring up the rear of the dance troupe. Taiko drums, flutes, and shamisen. The Awa Odori has a distinct rhythm and beat. It really makes you want to get up and dance.
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The dancers also let out a yell as they dance. Hana-no-ki-ren 花の木連
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Other dancers might also wear a simpler outfit of short pants and happi coat. Swinging around a fan is also common.
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These pictures show over 40 dance troupes which I photographed in 2004 and 2005. Budo-ren 富道連
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Budo-ren 富道連
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The dance troupes come from in and out of town. A few from Tokushima as well as Kanagawa, Chiba, Shizuoka, and other prefectures. Edokko-ren 江戸っ子連
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Tokushima and Tokyo have the most number of Awa Odori troupes with 40 to 50 each.
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Kokesaku-ren 苔作連
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Kokesaku-ren 苔作連
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連
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美遊ひよこ連
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美遊ひよこ連
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Bikkuri-ren びっくり連
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Midori-ren 美踊連
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Midori-ren 美踊連
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連
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Sometimes you see a gaijin participant. F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連
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Mitaka-ren みたか連
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Mitaka-ren みたか連
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Mitaka-ren みたか連
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連
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きたまちじゃじゃ馬連
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きたまちじゃじゃ馬連
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Many of the troupe names have pretty meanings such as Maicho-ren which means "Dancing Butterfly." 舞蝶連
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連
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A few troupes are company-sponsored and take on the company's name like this one, a construction company.
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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The Aoi Shin-ren is from Koenji and one of the largest Awa Odori troupes. They are great performers and one of my favorites.
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Koenji Awa Odori, Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Koenji Awa Odori, Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連
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Ageo Koiki-ren (from Saitama) あげお小粋連
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連
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Yurikamome-ren ゆりかもめ連
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Suzaku-ren 朱雀連
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Suzaku-ren 朱雀連
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天翔連
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天翔連
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天翔連
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天翔連
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天翔連
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天翔連
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Damudan-ren だむだん連
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Damudan-ren だむだん連
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Damudan-ren だむだん連
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Damudan-ren だむだん連
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連
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Tatsuno Otoshiko-ren たつのおとし子連
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Tatsuno Otoshiko-ren たつのおとし子連
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Tensui-ren 天水連
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Taiko drummers jamming. Tensui-ren 天水連
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Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連
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Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連
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Koganei is a city in Tokyo with a park famous for sakura cherry blossoms. Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連
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Shamisen player who knows how to smile for my camera. Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連
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騒連中
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騒連中
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連
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粋輦連
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粋輦連
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連
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成増チルド連
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成増チルド連
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連
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From the Suginami Ward Office, Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連
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Tengu-ren 天狗連
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Tengu-ren 天狗連
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Tengu-ren 天狗連
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After it's over...
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Koenji has many shopping arcades and side streets teeming with eateries.
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JR Koenji Station and Awa Odori sign.
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