 Most viewed - Fukushima Waraji Matsuri Festival 福島わらじまつり |
Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1739 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1240 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1211 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, 2009.590 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.486 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri283 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri253 views
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230 views
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Many of the dancers wore waraji-related things.224 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.215 views
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This girl's homemade happi coat says "Waraji Matsuri."191 views
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Awards ceremony. The festival ended at about 9:30 pm.159 views
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A trio of belly dancers.154 views
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Notice anything unusual about these hula dancers?148 views
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Look at their footwear. They are wearing a pair of waraji straw sandals.145 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)144 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.136 views
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A panel of judges were there to judge the dancers.134 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.123 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.121 views
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School girls121 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. 120 views
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They also displayed this giant golden waraji.120 views
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Near the intersection of Ekimae-dori and Route 13 was this entertainment stage.119 views
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Eisa group from Okinawa119 views
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Announcement of the winners.118 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.118 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.117 views
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Closeup of the giant waraji. 117 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.115 views
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A good-size crowd watched the dance contest.114 views
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Ekimae-dori street leading to Fukushima Station is closed to traffic.113 views
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They weren't wearing waraji.113 views
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Giant golden waraji had ema votive tablets written with people's wishes.112 views
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Apparently, it was their first time to appear in this festival.112 views
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Some fireworks112 views
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110 views
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At the intersection. Notice the giant waraji straw sandal.110 views
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Finally at 7:30 pm, the main event called Dancing Soda Night started along Route 13 and Ekimae-dori.109 views
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108 views
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The giant golden waraji was used to open the waraji races on the second day of the festival.108 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).108 views
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108 views
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108 views
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Many of the dance groups were from dance studios or schools.108 views
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106 views
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Hula dancers103 views
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