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Last additions - Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance 白鷺の舞
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White heron dancer on a mural at Asakusa Station.Apr 16, 2014
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The dancers leave Sensoji.Apr 16, 2014
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These guardian children headed the procession. They come from Sensoji Kindergarten. 守護童子Apr 16, 2014
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The white heron dancers bow before Sensoji temple before leaving.Apr 16, 2014
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White herons are a common sight in Japan. They do like to feed on rice fields.Apr 16, 2014
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Tourist posing with a dancer after the dance.Apr 16, 2014
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A short break after the dance.Apr 16, 2014
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White Heron Dance, AsakusaApr 16, 2014
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White Heron Dance, AsakusaApr 16, 2014
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White heron dance in front of Sensoji temple. Apr 16, 2014
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So elegant.Apr 16, 2014
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A gasp of amazement from spectators could be heard when the dancers spread their wings.Apr 16, 2014
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Passing under Hozomon Gate in front of Sensoji temple. Gotta watch their head.Apr 16, 2014
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Tourists make way for the white heron dancers along Nakamise mall in Asakusa.Apr 16, 2014
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Be sure to see my video of the White Heron Dance held on April 13, 2014.Apr 16, 2014
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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.Apr 16, 2014
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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.Apr 16, 2014
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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.Apr 16, 2014
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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.Apr 16, 2014
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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.Apr 16, 2014
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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.Apr 16, 2014
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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.Jun 06, 2010
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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. Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
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Also see my video at YouTube for the April 2010 performance.Apr 17, 2010
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The baton twirler does his thing as the crowd gathers around.Apr 17, 2010
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Each shirasagi dancer bowed to Sensoji (being renovated) before heading back to Nakamise.Apr 17, 2010
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Shirasagi dancers proceeding back to Nakamise.Apr 17, 2010
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Shirasagi dancers along Nakamise after passing through Hozomon Gate.Apr 17, 2010
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Looks like the bird feeder still had something left in her food box.Apr 17, 2010
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After the dance, they proceeded back to where they came from.Apr 17, 2010
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During a brief break, people gawk at the dancers. This was when I talked to one of them.Apr 17, 2010
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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..Apr 17, 2010
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At the end of the dance, they bowed.Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
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I guess the birds are happy with full stomachs.Apr 17, 2010
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Also see my video at YouTube.Apr 17, 2010
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The bird feeder sprinkles more food for the birds.Apr 17, 2010
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It looks like they are feeding.Apr 17, 2010
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Close-up of the heron head.Apr 17, 2010
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Fingers fastened to the wings control the wings.Apr 17, 2010
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Shirasagi dancers spreading their wings.Apr 17, 2010
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Another shirasagi shadow.Apr 17, 2010
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Most of the dancers seemed to be high school age, although I noticed a few older women as well.Apr 17, 2010
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Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance at Asakusa.Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
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White Heron dancers were silent and sang nothing as the musicians played.Apr 17, 2010
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The dance started with the baton twirler running around the dancers.Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
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The bird feeder then sprinkled small pieces of colored paper above the white heron dancers.Apr 17, 2010
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The shirasagi dancers then spread their wings and started to dance.Apr 17, 2010
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At around 2:30 pm, they started dancing.Apr 17, 2010
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The eight shirasagi dancers formed two groups of four with the umbrella holder between the two groups.Apr 17, 2010
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There are also three warriors who never did anything. 武人Apr 17, 2010
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The White Heron Dance originated in Kyoto over 1,100 years ago to purge the city of an epidemic.Apr 17, 2010
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These guardian children lead the way. They come from Sensoji Kindergarten. 守護童子Apr 17, 2010
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Bird feeder and umbrella holder. 餌まき,Apr 17, 2010
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They walked to the area in front of the 5-story pagoda. Apr 17, 2010
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The contingent pass through Hozomon Gate which is right in front of Sensoji temple.Apr 17, 2010
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They head toward Sensoji temple as the crowd make way for them along Nakamise.Apr 17, 2010
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Also see my video at YouTube.Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
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Musicians float. They are playing music all the while.Apr 17, 2010
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This is the umbrella holder (ogasa 大傘). He doesn't really shade anyone.Apr 17, 2010
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Their costume is quite elegant whichever way you look at it. Shirasagi-no-Mai White Heron Dance, Asakusa.Apr 17, 2010
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Shirasagi-no-Mai dancer at Asakusa.Apr 17, 2010
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I'm not sure how they keep the tall bird head and neck on their heads.Apr 17, 2010
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The Shirasagi-no-Mai white heron dancers pass through Kaminarimon Gate in Asakusa.Apr 17, 2010
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The bird feeder (esa-maki 餌まき) holds a nice box containing pieces of colored paper.Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
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The procession, headed by chigo children, pass through Kaminarimon Gate.Apr 17, 2010
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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."Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
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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.Apr 17, 2010
     
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