 Most viewed - Koenji Awa Odori Dance 高円寺阿波おどり |
These days, they have 10,000 dancers from 70 dance groups and over 1 million spectators. Also see the video at YouTube.317 viewsいろは連
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Koenji Awa Odori, Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連272 views
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Koenji Awa Odori, Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連270 views
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Crowd at JR Koenji Station on Awa Odori night.206 viewsThe 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.
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The troupe can consist of children (as young as age 2 or 3), women, and men.189 viewsThe 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.
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The dancers hop on one leg.178 viewsSo 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.
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連176 views
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連173 views
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Koenji has many shopping arcades and side streets teeming with eateries.172 views
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連167 views
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JR Koenji Station and Awa Odori sign.167 views
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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.163 views
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The dancers wear a light kimono and half-moon straw hats.162 views
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After it's over...162 views
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The parade route centers on JR Koenji Station. There are wide and narrow portions of the route.159 viewsIf it rains, they may stop the festival early.
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美遊ひよこ連156 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連155 views
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連154 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連153 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連153 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連152 views
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The dance troupe typically has subgroups of children, women, men, and musicians. Suiko-ren 吹鼓連151 views吹鼓連
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151 views美遊ひよこ連
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連150 views
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連148 views
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Tengu-ren 天狗連148 views
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Tengu-ren 天狗連147 views
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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.146 views花の木連
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146 views美遊ひよこ連
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Budo-ren 富道連145 views富道連
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美遊ひよこ連145 views
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連144 views
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連144 views
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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143 views
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連143 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連142 views
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Bikkuri-ren びっくり連141 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連141 views
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One trademark of the dancers is the crescent-shaped straw hats.140 views
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連140 views
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These pictures show over 40 dance troupes which I photographed in 2004 and 2005. Budo-ren 富道連139 views富道連
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連139 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連139 views
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連139 views
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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.138 views
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Many of the troupe names have pretty meanings such as Maicho-ren which means "Dancing Butterfly." 舞蝶連138 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連138 views
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Tatsuno Otoshiko-ren たつのおとし子連138 views
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The men look more like the "fools."137 views
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Tokushima and Tokyo have the most number of Awa Odori troupes with 40 to 50 each.137 viewsEdokko-ren 江戸っ子連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連137 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連136 views
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連136 views
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Shamisen player who knows how to smile for my camera. Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連136 views
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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135 viewsThere 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.
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Kokesaku-ren 苔作連135 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連135 views
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Each dance troupe starts with a lantern bearer showing the name of the troupe.134 viewsThe 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.
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Kokesaku-ren 苔作連134 views
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Each dance troupe is called a "ren." This is the Suiko-ren. 吹鼓連134 views
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Midori-ren 美踊連134 views
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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.133 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連133 views
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連132 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連132 views
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The dancers also let out a yell as they dance. Hana-no-ki-ren 花の木連131 views
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きたまちじゃじゃ馬連131 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連131 views
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Taiko drummers jamming. Tensui-ren 天水連131 views
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130 viewsEdokko-ren 江戸っ子連
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連130 views
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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.130 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連129 views
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連129 views
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連129 views
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連128 views
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127 viewsMidori-ren 美踊連
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連127 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連126 views
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A few troupes are company-sponsored and take on the company's name like this one, a construction company.126 viewsThere is even the Microsoft-ren. (Not pictured here.)
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連125 views
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Midori-ren 美踊連125 views
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連125 views
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連125 views
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Tengu-ren 天狗連125 views
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連124 views
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連123 views
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連123 views
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Tatsuno Otoshiko-ren たつのおとし子連122 views
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Sometimes you see a gaijin participant. F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連121 views
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きたまちじゃじゃ馬連121 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連121 views
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Zomeki-renju 騒連中121 views
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Suzaku-ren 朱雀連121 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連120 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連120 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連120 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連120 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連119 views
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連119 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連119 views
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Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連118 views
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連118 views
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連117 views
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連117 views
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116 views
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連116 views
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Tensui-ren 天水連116 views
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連116 views
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連115 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連115 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連115 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連115 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連114 views
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Yurikamome-ren ゆりかもめ連114 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連114 views
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Suzaku-ren 朱雀連114 views
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From the Suginami Ward Office, Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連114 views
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連114 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連114 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連113 views
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Zomeki-renju 騒連中113 views
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連113 views
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連112 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連112 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連112 views
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Suiren 粋輦112 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連112 views
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Narimasu Child-ren 成増チルド連112 views
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111 viewsSharaku-ren 写楽連
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連111 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連111 views
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Ageo Koiki-ren (from Saitama) あげお小粋連110 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連109 views
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Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連109 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連109 views
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連108 views
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107 views
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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107 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連106 views
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Narimasu Child-ren 成増チルド連106 views
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連106 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連101 views
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Suiren 粋輦100 views
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My video of 2016 Koenji Awa Odori (56 troupes) 第60回高円寺阿波おどり 56連の総集編 66 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2015 第59回高円寺阿波おどり 40連の総集編62 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2013 Part 3/3 第57回 東京高円寺阿波おどり 総集編62 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2011 Part 2/2 高円寺阿波おどり61 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 1/3 - Kokesaku 苔作61 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2013 Part 2/3 第57回 東京高円寺阿波おどり 総集編60 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 3/3 - Asuka-ren 飛鳥連60 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2011 Part 1/2 高円寺阿波おどり59 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 2/3 - Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連59 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2013 Part 1/3 第57回 東京高円寺阿波おどり 総集編57 views
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My video of 2023 Koenji Awa Odori. 第64回高円寺阿波おどり 9 views
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My video of Maicho-ren at 2023 Koenji Awa Odori on Aug. 26, 2023.7 views
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My video of 2018 Koenji Awa Odori 第62回高円寺阿波おどり 6 views
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My video of Sharaku-ren 写楽連 at 2023 Koenji Awa Odori on Aug. 26, 2023.6 views
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My video of Hanamichi-ren 花道連 at 2023 Koenji Awa Odori on Aug. 26, 2023.5 views
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My video of 2017 Koenji Awa Odori (56 troupes) 第61回高円寺阿波おどり 3 views
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