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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

One of Japan's grandest festivals, the Tokushima Awa Odori is a summer dance performed in central Tokushima city. Numerous dance troupes called "ren" appear in a long parade along the city's main streets for four evenings in mid-Aug. About 2 million people see it during the four days it is held. It is like a bon dance to greet the souls of the deceased returning to visit. There are other Awa Odori festivals in Japan, but the one in Tokushima is the original and largest one. "Awa" is the former feudal name of Tokushima. Photo: Entrance to one of the spectator areas called "embujo" (admission charged). 藍場浜演舞場

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.

April 8, 2006 at Ushigome-Tansu Kumin Hall in Kagurazaka, TokyoStarting at 4 pm, this was the third and last show of the day and all 400 seats were sold out.

The performance had two parts separated by a 20-min. intermission. Each part had several different dances.

Established in 1617, Tsukiji Hongwanji temple is the Tokyo headquarters of the Nishi Hongwanji Jodo Shinshu sect. The present temple, based on Indian architecture, was built in the 1930s.The temple is the only one in Japan which is under the direct control of the sect. Its head priest is the Monshu Abbot himself. April 8 is observed as Buddha's birthday, called Hana Matsuri ("Flower Festival) in Japan.

PR poster for the Kamogawa Odori geisha dance held during May 1-24 in Pontocho.

Kanagawa Prefecture's largest Awa Odori is held annually during the last weekend in July in this city of Yamato. Preview event near Yamato Station.

Road marker. Established in 1642, Moriyama-juku was the sixty-seventh of the sixty-nine stations or shukuba post towns on the Nakasendo Road. It is the eighth Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Musa-juku in Omi-Hachiman).

Tokyo Dome on March 3, 2006, the first day of the WBC's Asian Round.

Toriimoto-juku is the sixty-third of the sixty-nine stations or shukuba post towns on the Nakasendo Road. It is the fourth Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Bamba-juku in Maibara), and one of ten Nakasendo stations in Shiga.

The outdoor architectural museum is within Koganei Park in Koganei, Tokyo. This is the Visitors Center.

Spectator seats. Admission is 1,000 to 2,000 yen.

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.

Part 1 - Edo Scenes (江戸風情): 1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria) 藤むらさきDancers: 小奴、千佳、由良子、舞子

Tsukiji Hongwanji temple gate with wisteria crest.The emblem is a wisteria flower and symbol of the Jodo Shinshu sect.

Pontocho Kaburenjo theater, venue for Kamogawa Odori.

Road marker. Go right for the Nakasendo Road. MAP

Tokyo Dome

Although the Honjin is long gone, there are a few reminders of its shukuba past. Near Ohmi Railways Toriimoto Station. Map

Going to visitors center

Crowds already line Tokushima's main street soon to be closed to traffic.

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.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Temple gate and flag

Pontocho is a narrow alley and known as a geisha district.

Pre-festival event held in the afternoon, Yamato Awa Odori

Rear of road marker

Front entrance to Tokyo Dome. Japan plays its first WBC game and the opponent is China.

Ohmi Railways Toriimoto Station platform

Visitors Center entrance courtyard

These photos were taken in Aug. 1999.

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.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Play room for kids on Hanamatsuri

Dance program for 2005.

Marker for the Kabuto-ya inn

Chinese team is introduced.

Ohmi Railways Toriimoto Station building

Pre-festival warm-up performance.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Hanamatsuri altar

Barrels of sake next to the theater.

Yamato Station

Old Nakasendo Road and Dobashi Bridge. Supposedly, this is the bridge from where Hiroshige drew his print of Moriyama-juku.

Japan's National Anthem is played.

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

Ohmi Railways Toriimoto Station building

This was in front of a dept. store near Tokushima Station.

Shinmachi-bashi road in front of Tokushima Station 新町橋通りIt was Awa Odori time.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Pouring sweet tea over the BuddhaWhen the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden in Nepal, sweet rain is said to have fallen. Thus, sweet tea is poured over the baby Buddha statue in the Hanamatsuri altar.

A geisha/geiko and maiko head to the theater to see the Kamogawa Odori. Notice the different obi sash on the back.A maiko is an apprentice geisha. Her obi sah on the back is long, as well as her sleeves.

Balloons, souvenirs and trinkets sold near the train station.

Dobashi Bridge

Tommy Lasorda after throwing the flubbed first pitch.He just threw the ball right on the ground like he wanted to throw it away. It wasn't a pitch at all. What was his problem?

The men look more like the "fools."

Toriimoto Station building built in 1931 when the station opened and still in use.

Jisho-in Mausoleum

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.

Sculpture of Awa Odori dancers on mailbox

They performed in the afternoon.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria) by Kagurazaka geisha

Hanamatsuri celebrates the Buddha's birthday on April 8. This is Tsukiji Honganji in Tokyo.The flowers symbolize Lumbini Garden where the Buddha was born in present-day Nepal.

Pontocho Kaburenjo theater

Tomon-in temple built by Buddhist Priest Saicho (Dengyo Daishi) to protect his Enryakuji temple on Mt. Hiei from demons from the east. 東門院

Crowd behind homeplate. 16,000 yen seats.

Mansion of Mitsui Hachiroemon, one of the museum's must-see buildingsFounder of the Mitsui zaibatsu.

Sculpture of Awa Odori dancers

Tokushima's Awa Odori originated in 1587 to mark the completion of Izan Castle in Tokushima (formerly called Awa Province). The castle lord allowed the people to celebrate and they danced the night away.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Baby Buddha statueLadles are provided for pouring the sweet tea over the Buddha. Sweet tea is also provided to worshippers. It symbolizes the sweet rain that fell when the Buddha was born.

Geiko and maiko in front of Pontocho Kaburenjo theater

Main drag and shopping arcade called Yamato Chuo-dori大和中央通り

Kaeru frog to wish you a safe return. 東門院

China at bat.

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

Inside Mitsui Hachiroemon mansion

Rear view of a dancer

Sculpture of Awa Odori dancer

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Children dressed for the chigo parade, Tsukiji Hongwanji, TokyoIt took a long time before they could get all the kids to settle down for the picture and to get all the mothers out of the picture.

Entrance to Pontocho Kaburenjo theater. You can buy tickets for the day's performance.

Spectators wait for the parade to begin.

樹下神社

Pitcher Koji Uehara, originally from the Yomiuri Giants.Unfortunately, Daisuke Matsusaka did not pitch this night.

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.

Site of Honjin Lodge

Tokiwadai Photo Studio, 1937Unfortunately, it was closed for renovations. It has a large frosted glass which brought in daylight for studio lighting.

Ishibe-juku was the 51st stage/post or shukuba lodging town on the Tokaido Road where even Emperor Meiji once stayed (with an entourage of over 3,000). View from JR Ishibe Station. Ishibe in Konan city is rural, yet it has a few major industries operating.

Kusatsu-juku was the fifty-second station on the Tokaido Road (following Ishibe-juku) and the sixty-eighth station (following Moriyama-juku) on the Nakasendo Road. During the Edo Period, Kusatsu was an important post town at the crossroads of both roads.The roof is shaped like a Honjin lodge, with a gate. 草津駅

Musa-juku was the sixty-sixth of the sixty-nine stations or shukuba post towns on the Nakasendo Road. It is the seventh Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Echigawa-juku in Aisho). MAPMusa was one of ten Nakasendo stations in Shiga. There is very little left. Near Ohmi Railways Musa Station, a short ride from Omi-Hachiman.

Tokushima Awa Odori dancer

Sculpture of Awa Odori dancer

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Children dressed for the chigo parade (photo session), Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo

Inside the theater, waiting for the start of the 168th Kamogawa Odori (in 2005) to start.

Takahata Fudo Station, Keio Line 高幡不動駅

People coming to Takahata Fudoson temple on Feb. 3, Setsubun day.

The festival/parade starts before dark.

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.

Ichiro in right field.

Nakasendo Road

Farmer's house

Condensed mirror of Awa Odori dancerAibahama Park in the distance.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Going to the chigo parade's starting point

Part 1 Monogusa Soshi: Taro's Shack. Lazy Taro does nothing but compose poems all day in his shack. 物ぐさ草紙　太郎の小屋The first half is a musical play with a storyline.

Sando path to temple from train station. 参道

Takahata Fudoson temple entrance 高幡不動尊

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

Ichiro at bat

Farmer's house

Awa Odori Kaikan museumHappi coats worn by Awa Odori dance troupes.

Free Awa odori lessons.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)Dancer's name is Maiko 舞子

White elephant to anchor the parade. Notice the Buddha altar riding on the top. Before she gave birth to the Buddha, Queen Maya dreamed of a white elephant.

Taro's Shack

Entrance to Takahata Fudoson Kongoji temple

The setsubun bean-throwing starts with a memorial service, then a procession of the bean throwers and priests.

Stone for safe childbirth

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

Ichiro at bat

Inside farmer's house

Awa Odori Kaikan museumAwa Odori publicity posters.

Lining up for the non-reserved spectator seats.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Start of the Hanamatsuri parade which also promotes traffic safety.The starting point was a nearby park.

Takahata Fudoson Kongoji temple, Hino, Tokyo 高幡不動尊金剛寺

Priests in setsubun procession within the temple grounds.

Tenmangu Shrine

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

Right to left: Ichiro hits and reaches 1st base.

Police station

Inside farmer's house

The Awa Odori begins before dark.

1. Fuji Murasaki (Purple Wisteria)

Parade starts...

Magistrate's House

Niomon Gate, Important Cultural Property from the Muromachi Period 仁王門 (重要文化財)

Priests in setsubun procession within the temple grounds.

Tenmangu Shrine

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

Ichiro at 1st base.

Another farmer's house

Edo Scenes: 2. Sumidagawa (Sumida River)Solo dancer: 眞由美 (Mayumi)

Baton-twirling club from the Chiyoda Jogakuin Junior/Senior High School followed by the elephant千代田女学院

Niomon Gate

Priests in setsubun procession coming through Niomon Gate

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.

Thanks to a homer by a teammate, Ichiro trots past 3rd base.

Plaque

Inside another farmer's house

All spectator seats were taken.

2. Sumidagawa (Sumida River)

Chigo children

Fudo Hall on left and Horinkaku on the right, Takahata Fudoson Kongoji temple, Hino, Tokyo

Priest blowing a conch shell

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

Ichiro and another go round 3rd base as China looks on helplessly.

Yamanote-dori Road

2. Sumidagawa (Sumida River)

On the road in front of the temple

Priests in setsubun procession coming through Niomon Gate

Incense burner 大香炉

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

Ichiro reaches home as the umpire makes sure Ichiro steps on homeplate.

Road marker

Takahashi Korekiyo mansion

Actress Fujita Tomoko heads one dance troupe.

Edo Scenes: 3. Edo no Nigiwai (Liveliness of Edo) 江戸の賑わいDancers: 竜也、英子、万り

Baton-twirling club, Tsukiji Hongwanji, Tokyo 千代田女学院バトン部千代田女学院

Taro overhears the Lord's daughter trying to compose a poem.

Festival beauties included.

Putting smoke on one's head.

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

Head coach Sadaharu Oh (extreme right).Also on the left, see Ichiro in the dugout.

Road marker: Go left for the Nakasendo Road or right for the Hikone Road.

The festival usually features a celebrity or two. This is actress Fujita Tomoko at the Tokushima Awa Odori.

3. Edo no Nigiwai (Liveliness of Edo)

Female schoolmates of the baton twirlers block the cameras of unrelated photographers when the baton twirlers passed. カメラ小僧を妨害するバトン部の先輩たち。This was the first time for me in Japan to see people blocking photographers from taking pictures at a festival. They did it to me as well. If they don't want to be photographed, why do they appear in this public festival??

妨害しても無駄だと思いますが。撮られるのがいやでしたら、まつりに出ない方がいいですよ。