 Most viewed - Fukushima Waraji Matsuri Festival 福島わらじまつり |
Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1695 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1198 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1169 views
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My YouTube video featuring Diverse dance troupes on the streets of Fukushima in the evening at the annual Fukushima Waraji Matsuri. This is the evening parade (Dancing Soda Night) on Aug. 8, 2009.556 views
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My YouTube video featuring hula dancers in waraji straw sandals, hip-hop, belly dancers, and more during the 1st Waraji Day Dance Contest on Ekimae-dori near Fukushima Station on Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:30 pm. Also, giant waraji races.453 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri221 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri199 views
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Many of the dancers wore waraji-related things.188 views
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Held on the first Fri. and Sat. of Aug., the Fukushima Waraji Matsuri is mainly an evening parade of dancers. During Aug. 7-8, 2009, the 40th Fukushima Waraji Festival was held. I saw it on the second day.178 views
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172 views
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This girl's homemade happi coat says "Waraji Matsuri."160 views
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Awards ceremony. The festival ended at about 9:30 pm.126 views
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A trio of belly dancers.117 views
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Notice anything unusual about these hula dancers?113 views
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Look at their footwear. They are wearing a pair of waraji straw sandals.111 views
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On Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:30 pm, they held the 1st Waraji Day Dance Contest on Ekimae-dori. (わらじDayダンス選手権)108 views
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For a few hours, numerous dance groups performed in a contest. They even had a hula troupe dance, to my delight as I'm from Hawaii.102 views
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97 views
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96 views
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A panel of judges were there to judge the dancers.93 views
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They also displayed this giant golden waraji.91 views
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Waraji race at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri Festival. Each race team had to have 10 members. Also see my YouTube video here.89 views
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Each dance group had to perform two numbers. The first one had to be "Dancing Soda Night" for 3 min. and the second one could be anything for 5 min. or less.86 views
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Announcement of the winners.86 views
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School girls86 views
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86 views
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"Waraji" means straw sandals. In central Fukushima city, Ashio Shrine (足尾神社) at a mountain called Shinobu-yama (信夫山) has Japan's largest waraji at 12 meters long and weighing 2 tons. 85 views
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The giant waraji sandal is an offering for healthy legs/feet. On the first day of the festival (which I missed in 2009), they carry this giant waraji to the festival grounds along Route 13. Here it is displayed at the intersection.85 views
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Near the intersection of Ekimae-dori and Route 13 was this entertainment stage.85 views
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Eisa group from Okinawa85 views
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Giant golden waraji had ema votive tablets written with people's wishes.84 views
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Groups of children, women, etc., were to pull this large waraji on wheels on the 300-meter long race course along Route 13. A pair of large waraji were raced down the road. Then raced back by another pair of racers.83 views
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A good-size crowd watched the dance contest.82 views
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Some fireworks82 views
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Ekimae-dori street leading to Fukushima Station is closed to traffic.81 views
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81 views
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At the intersection. Notice the giant waraji straw sandal.81 views
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Closeup of the giant waraji. 80 views
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They weren't wearing waraji.80 views
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78 views
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Finally at 7:30 pm, the main event called Dancing Soda Night started along Route 13 and Ekimae-dori.78 views
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77 views
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The giant golden waraji was used to open the waraji races on the second day of the festival.77 views
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77 views
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Apparently, it was their first time to appear in this festival.77 views
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77 views
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Many of the dance groups were from dance studios or schools.77 views
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On Aug. 8, 2009 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, the second day of the festival, they held waraji races along Route 13 (Shinobu-dori).76 views
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After the waraji races, they also had taiko float races where people pulled/pushed a taiko float in a race.76 views
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75 views
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73 views
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73 views
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Hula dancers71 views
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