Koenji Awa Odori Dance 高円寺阿波おどり

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Koenji Awa Odori Dance 高円寺阿波おどり

My video of 2023 Koenji Awa Odori. 第64回高円寺阿波おどり

My video of 2018 Koenji Awa Odori 第62回高円寺阿波おどり

My video of 2017 Koenji Awa Odori (56 troupes) 第61回高円寺阿波おどり

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

My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2015 第59回高円寺阿波おどり 40連の総集編

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

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

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

My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2011 Part 1/2 高円寺阿波おどり

My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2011 Part 2/2 高円寺阿波おどり

My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 1/3 - Kokesaku 苔作

My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 2/3 - Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連

My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 3/3 - Asuka-ren 飛鳥連

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.

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.

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.

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.

One trademark of the dancers is the crescent-shaped straw hats.

The men look more like the "fools."

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.

It is most crowded along the large avenues. The crowd is several rows deep. Those in the front are expected to sit down.

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.

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.

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

Each dance troupe is called a "ren." This is the Suiko-ren. 吹鼓連

The dance troupe typically has subgroups of children, women, men, and musicians. Suiko-ren 吹鼓連吹鼓連

The dancers wear a light kimono and half-moon straw hats.

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.

The dancers also let out a yell as they dance. Hana-no-ki-ren 花の木連

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

These pictures show over 40 dance troupes which I photographed in 2004 and 2005. Budo-ren 富道連富道連

Budo-ren 富道連富道連

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

Tokushima and Tokyo have the most number of Awa Odori troupes with 40 to 50 each.Edokko-ren 江戸っ子連

Edokko-ren 江戸っ子連

Kokesaku-ren 苔作連

Kimagu-ren きまぐ連

美遊ひよこ連

Bikkuri-ren びっくり連

Midori-ren 美踊連

F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連

Sometimes you see a gaijin participant. F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連

Mitaka-ren みたか連

Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連

きたまちじゃじゃ馬連

Many of the troupe names have pretty meanings such as Maicho-ren which means "Dancing Butterfly." 舞蝶連

Maicho-ren 舞蝶連

My video of Maicho-ren at 2023 Koenji Awa Odori on Aug. 26, 2023.

Goraku-ren 伍楽連

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.)