Last additions - Suginami-ku 杉並区 |
Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連Jul 18, 2006
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連Jul 18, 2006
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Tatsuno Otoshiko-ren たつのおとし子連Jul 18, 2006
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Damudan-ren だむだん連Jul 18, 2006
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連Jul 18, 2006
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連Jul 18, 2006
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Tensho-ren 天翔連Jul 18, 2006
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Suiren 粋輦Jul 18, 2006
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Damudan-ren だむだん連Jul 18, 2006
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Suzaku-ren 朱雀連Jul 18, 2006
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Jul 18, 2006
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Tensho-ren 天翔連Jul 18, 2006
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連Jul 18, 2006
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連Jul 18, 2006
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Suzaku-ren 朱雀連Jul 18, 2006
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連Jul 18, 2006
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Damudan-ren だむだん連Jul 18, 2006
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連Jul 18, 2006
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Zomeki-renju 騒連中Jul 18, 2006
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Tensho-ren 天翔連Jul 18, 2006
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連Jul 18, 2006
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Tensho-ren 天翔連Jul 18, 2006
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Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Yurikamome-ren ゆりかもめ連Jul 18, 2006
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Tatsuno Otoshiko-ren たつのおとし子連Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連Jul 18, 2006
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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.Jul 18, 2006
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Damudan-ren だむだん連Jul 18, 2006
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Tensho-ren 天翔連Jul 18, 2006
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連Jul 18, 2006
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連Jul 18, 2006
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Tensho-ren 天翔連Jul 18, 2006
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連Jul 18, 2006
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連Jul 18, 2006
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Ageo Koiki-ren (from Saitama) あげお小粋連Jul 18, 2006
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Koenji Awa Odori, Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連Jul 18, 2006
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連Jul 18, 2006
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Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Mitaka-ren みたか連Jul 18, 2006
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連Jul 18, 2006
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Koenji Awa Odori, Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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Midori-ren 美踊連Jul 18, 2006
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連Jul 18, 2006
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連Jul 18, 2006
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A few troupes are company-sponsored and take on the company's name like this one, a construction company.There is even the Microsoft-ren. (Not pictured here.)Jul 18, 2006
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美遊ひよこ連Jul 18, 2006
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連Jul 18, 2006
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連Jul 18, 2006
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Kokesaku-ren 苔作連Jul 18, 2006
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連Jul 18, 2006
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連Jul 18, 2006
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Many of the troupe names have pretty meanings such as Maicho-ren which means "Dancing Butterfly." 舞蝶連Jul 18, 2006
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連Jul 18, 2006
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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Jul 18, 2006
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きたまちじゃじゃ馬連Jul 18, 2006
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連Jul 18, 2006
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きたまちじゃじゃ馬連Jul 18, 2006
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The dancers also let out a yell as they dance. Hana-no-ki-ren 花の木連Jul 18, 2006
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連Jul 18, 2006
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連Jul 18, 2006
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Each dance troupe is called a "ren." This is the Suiko-ren. 吹鼓連Jul 18, 2006
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Mitaka-ren みたか連Jul 18, 2006
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Mitaka-ren みたか連Jul 18, 2006
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Sometimes you see a gaijin participant. F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連Jul 18, 2006
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連Jul 18, 2006
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Midori-ren 美踊連Jul 18, 2006
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Midori-ren 美踊連Jul 18, 2006
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美遊ひよこ連Jul 18, 2006
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Bikkuri-ren びっくり連Jul 18, 2006
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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.Jul 18, 2006
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美遊ひよこ連Jul 18, 2006
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連Jul 18, 2006
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美遊ひよこ連Jul 18, 2006
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連Jul 18, 2006
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Edokko-ren 江戸っ子連Jul 18, 2006
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Kokesaku-ren 苔作連Jul 18, 2006
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Tokushima and Tokyo have the most number of Awa Odori troupes with 40 to 50 each.Edokko-ren 江戸っ子連Jul 18, 2006
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These pictures show over 40 dance troupes which I photographed in 2004 and 2005. Budo-ren 富道連富道連Jul 18, 2006
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Budo-ren 富道連富道連Jul 18, 2006
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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.花の木連Jul 18, 2006
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The dancers wear a light kimono and half-moon straw hats.Jul 18, 2006
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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.Jul 18, 2006
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The dance troupe typically has subgroups of children, women, men, and musicians. Suiko-ren 吹鼓連吹鼓連Jul 18, 2006
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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There are now about 30 to 40 Awa Odori parades held in Tokyo alone, usually in shopping areas. The one in Koenji is the largest in Tokyo.Jul 18, 2006
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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.いろは連Jul 18, 2006
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The dancers hop on one leg.So what is Tokushima's Awa Odori doing in Koenji, Tokyo? It was first organized by a youth group of Koenji's retail merchants in 1957. They wanted to hold an event to attract more shoppers to the area. Neighboring town Asagaya had already started the Tanabata Festival in 1954. The Tanabata Matsuri, of course, is from up north in Sendai, Miyagi Pref. So the Koenji folks decided to transplant a southern festival to Koenji. That was the Awa Odori.Jul 18, 2006
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The parade route centers on JR Koenji Station. There are wide and narrow portions of the route.If it rains, they may stop the festival early.Jul 18, 2006
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The men look more like the "fools."Jul 18, 2006
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One trademark of the dancers is the crescent-shaped straw hats.Jul 18, 2006
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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.Jul 18, 2006
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Crowd at JR Koenji Station on Awa Odori night.The Koenji Awa Odori is basically a parade of dancers. Many groups of dancers from various parts of Japan participate in the parade that follows the main shopping streets near Koenji Station on the Japan Railways Chuo Line in Tokyo.Jul 18, 2006
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The troupe can consist of children (as young as age 2 or 3), women, and men.The Awa Odori originated 400 years ago in Tokushima Prefecture (in Shikoku) where it is one of Japan's most famous festivals. Although it is not as large as the one in Tokushima, the Koenji Awa Odori in Tokyo has become a major summer festival in Tokyo.Jul 18, 2006
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Each dance troupe starts with a lantern bearer showing the name of the troupe.The dance is quite simple. While bobbing up and down, the dancer holds her hands above the head and shakes the fingers. This hand gesture indicates that the person has gone crazy. It is therefore nicknamed the "fool's dance." The dance is held on the last weekend in August.Jul 18, 2006
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