 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.318 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.207 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.190 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177 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168 views
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JR Koenji Station and Awa Odori sign.168 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.164 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.160 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156 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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The dance troupe typically has subgroups of children, women, men, and musicians. Suiko-ren 吹鼓連152 views吹鼓連
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Tensho-ren 天翔連152 views
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151 views美遊ひよこ連
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連151 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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Other dancers might also wear a simpler outfit of short pants and happi coat. Swinging around a fan is also common.147 views花の木連
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Tengu-ren 天狗連147 views
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美遊ひよこ連146 views
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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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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連145 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144 views
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連144 views
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連144 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連143 views
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Bikkuri-ren びっくり連142 views
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One trademark of the dancers is the crescent-shaped straw hats.141 views
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連141 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連141 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連140 views
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The men look more like the "fools."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.139 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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Silver-ren 志留波阿連139 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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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 first Koenji Awa Odori in 1957 had only 57 dancers and about 2,000 spectators. Iroha-ren いろは連137 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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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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Shamisen player who knows how to smile for my camera. Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連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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Each dance troupe starts with a lantern bearer showing the name of the troupe.135 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135 views
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Kokesaku-ren 苔作連135 views
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Midori-ren 美踊連135 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連135 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.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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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連134 views
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Taiko drummers jamming. Tensui-ren 天水連133 views
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The dancers also let out a yell as they dance. Hana-no-ki-ren 花の木連132 views
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きたまちじゃじゃ馬連132 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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131 viewsEdokko-ren 江戸っ子連
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連131 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.131 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連131 views
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連130 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連130 views
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連129 views
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連129 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連129 views
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128 viewsMidori-ren 美踊連
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Mitaka-ren みたか連127 views
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A few troupes are company-sponsored and take on the company's name like this one, a construction company.127 viewsThere is even the Microsoft-ren. (Not pictured here.)
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連127 views
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連126 views
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連126 views
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Midori-ren 美踊連125 views
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連125 views
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Tengu-ren 天狗連125 views
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連124 views
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Tatsuno Otoshiko-ren たつのおとし子連123 views
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連123 views
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Sometimes you see a gaijin participant. F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連122 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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Damudan-ren だむだん連121 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連121 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連120 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連120 views
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連120 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連120 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連120 views
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連119 views
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連118 views
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Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連118 views
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連118 views
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117 views
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連117 views
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連116 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連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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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連116 views
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Yurikamome-ren ゆりかもめ連115 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連115 views
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From the Suginami Ward Office, Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連115 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連115 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連115 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連114 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連114 views
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Suzaku-ren 朱雀連114 views
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連114 views
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連114 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連114 views
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連113 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連113 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連113 views
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Zomeki-renju 騒連中113 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連112 views
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112 viewsSharaku-ren 写楽連
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連112 views
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Suiren 粋輦112 views
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Narimasu Child-ren 成増チルド連112 views
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Ageo Koiki-ren (from Saitama) あげお小粋連111 views
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Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連110 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連110 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連109 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108 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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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連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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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連102 views
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Suiren 粋輦101 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 67 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63 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 1/3 - Kokesaku 苔作63 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 2013 Part 2/3 第57回 東京高円寺阿波おどり 総集編61 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 2/3 - Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連61 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 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 10 views
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My video of Sharaku-ren 写楽連 at 2023 Koenji Awa Odori on Aug. 26, 2023.9 views
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My video of Maicho-ren at 2023 Koenji Awa Odori on Aug. 26, 2023.8 views
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My video of Hanamichi-ren 花道連 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 2017 Koenji Awa Odori (56 troupes) 第61回高円寺阿波おどり 4 views
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