Image search results - "dancers" - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Image search results - "dancers"

Hula dancers

The ceremony included hula chanting and dancing.

Hula dancers watch the ceremony

The fourth and final number was the Finale called 江戸の心浅茅の賑い which consisted of six parts. They performed their zashiki dances.

The Finale's first part was called Namiki Komagata-Koi no Asakusa 並木駒形　恋の浅草

Dancing on the hanamichi

The third part of the Finale. 五万石

Fourth part of the Finale. 笠森おせん

Last part of the Finale called Asakusa Meibutsu-Sawagi when they all came out dancing on the stage and hanamichi. 浅草名物　さわぎ

Toward the end, they threw hand towels to the audience. Also see my YouTube video here.

Then they all sat and started to bow. It was really an outstanding performance.

Asakusa geisha bowing to the audience in three directions. Bravo!

Since this was the final show (Oct. 29, 2008 at 3 pm), they all appeared on the stage with the organizers and said a few words.

Asakusa Odori organizer speaks to thank the audience. He said that people looked forward to seeing the next Asakusa Odori next year, but he said, "There won't be one next year."

At the end, we clapped in celebration. The show was 2.5 hours long, including a 10-min. and 20-min. intermission.

Asakusa hangyoku (apprentice geisha in Tokyo). 半玉千福

Asakusa hangyoku (apprentice geisha in Tokyo). 半玉こず江

I also saw the 22nd Asakusa Odori held in April 2001 at the Asakusa Kokaido. The lobby had two hangoyku greeting the audience.

Asakusa hangyoku (apprentice geisha in Tokyo) named Ichigo posing in April 2001. 半玉

22nd Asakusa Odori, April 2001.

22nd Asakusa Odori, April 2001. Also see the official Asakusa geisha Web site here.

About the Asahi Honen Taiko Odori. It originated in the latter 7th century in Ohara village when they started to cultivate new farming land. It was a rainmaking dance. Now held in Oct. in Maibara.

The Asahi Honen Taiko Odori start walking from the Asahi neighborhood near Hachiman Shrine.

With Mt. Ibuki in the background, the Asahi Honen Taiko Odori dance troupe head for Hachiman Shrine.

Asahi is the name of the village, and Honen means rich harvest.

Asahi Honen Taiko Odori dancers.

Asahi Honen Taiko Odori dancers and Mt. Ibuki in Maibara, Shiga.

The Asahi Honen Taiko Odori dancers arrive at Hachiman Shrine.

The Asahi Honen Taiko Odori dancers at Hachiman Shrine on a beautiful, sunny day on Oct. 4, 2009.

First they danced in two columns in the center.

The Asahi Honen Taiko Odori is a National Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

They later danced in a circle.

Asahi Honen Taiko Odori dance in Maibara, Shiga.

Note that this taiko dance will be canceled if it rains.

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)

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.

Notice anything unusual about these hula dancers?

Look at their footwear. They are wearing a pair of waraji straw sandals.

Also see my YouTube video here.

A trio of belly dancers.

Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.

Also see my YouTube video here.

Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.

Announcement of the winners.

A good-size crowd watched the dance contest.

Near the intersection of Ekimae-dori and Route 13 was this entertainment stage.

Finally at 7:30 pm, the main event called Dancing Soda Night started along Route 13 and Ekimae-dori.

Dancing maids. Also see my YouTube video here.

Hula dancers

Apparently, it was their first time to appear in this festival.

They weren't wearing waraji.

Also see my YouTube video here.

School girls

Many of the dance groups were from dance studios or schools.

Fukushima Waraji Matsuri

Eisa group from Okinawa

At the intersection. Notice the giant waraji straw sandal.

Some fireworks

Also see my YouTube video here.

Awards ceremony. The festival ended at about 9:30 pm.

Then I stumbled across this arch kite.

To my delight, it was an arch kite of hula girls.

The hula girls were joined by Awa Odori girls from Tokushima.

They're even wearing a lei and a flower in their hair!!

Huge arch kite of hula girls and Awa Odori dancers.

Needless to say, this was my favorite kite at the festival. How did they know someone from Hawaii was coming?

Their feet fluttered in the wind and their hips rocked left and right like real hula dancers.

The Awa Odori dancers also danced great in the wind. (Watch my video.)

Hiko-nyan (Hikone Castle's official mascot) meets hula girls!

Hula lesson for kids at the Beach Theater in the Water Park.

Beach Theater shows are free, but they also sell tickets for the best seats for ¥600 to ¥800.

Colored seats are reserved and cost extra.

Hula Girl Polynesian Revue at 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm at the Beach Theater.

The live band were all Japanese. All the dancers were Japanese and most are from Fukushima.

Fire knife dancers are the highlight and crowd pleasers. They are Japanese, but well-trained and highly skilled with the fire.

Great dancers and great show!

This is Maluhia Yukari, the leader of the hula girls. She was a pivotal in taking the lead following the 3/11 disasters and promoting Spa Resort Hawaiians on tour. She retired in June 2012. マルヒア由佳理

At the end of the show, people who paid for reserved seats could have their picture taken with the hula girls.

Recruitment of hula girls.

Shortly after Joban Hawaiian Center opened in 1966, famous singer Aunty Genoa Keawe from Hawaii performed here.

My video of Spa Resort Hawaiians. Visit Fukushima, visit Spa Resort Hawaiians!

Minyo Nagashi folk dancing at Hachioji Matsuri, Tokyo.

Held only once every 5 years, the Ibuki-yama Taiko Drum Dance was held on Oct. 3, 2010 in Ueno, a small neighborhood at the foot of Mt. Ibuki.

The festival started at noon near the Ueno Kaikan Hall (brown building on right). MAP

The taiko drum procession is headed by this large banner saying, "Ibuki-yama Hono Taiko Odori" which means Ibuki-yama Taiko Drum Offertory Dance.

The procession consists of various people including these two torch bearers.

The torch bearers are followed by male flute players.

Ibuki-yama Taiko Drum Procession in front of Ueno Kaikan Hall.

The male flue players are followed by female flute players from a local junior high school.

They spent most of the summer practicing for this festival. They are entirely voluntary.

Women dancers and taiko drum players.

Also see the video at YouTube.

At the end of the procession are these little kids waving a wand attached to a gourd.

These kids are called fukube-furi.

They head for Sannomiya Shrine only about 120 meters away.

Sannomiya Shrine at the foot of Mt. Ibuki.

Steps going up to Sannomiya Shrine.

The taiko drum procession proceeded very slowly to the shrine.

Finally, they are in sight of Sannomiya Shrine.

It took them about 90 min. to reach the shrine.

They finally reached the shrine steps.

The procession is met by the shrine priest.

Greeted and led by the shrine priest, the taiko drum procession starts to enter the shrine grounds.

The various groups in the procession enter the shrine grounds after going up the steps and pass through the torii gate.

They started to form a circle and danced.

The taiko drummers include a good number of grade school boys who practiced hard during the summer for this festival.

After a while, they sat down and rested while a few speeches were given.

"Long ago, villagers in Ueno at the foot of Mt. Ibuki prayed for rain by doing the thunder dance by beating drums and bells, lighting torches, etc. After the rainfall and a good harvest in autumn, they danced to give thanks. This is what we are danci