 Most viewed - Fukushima Waraji Matsuri Festival 福島わらじまつり |
Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1741 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1240 views
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Belly dancer at Fukushima Waraji Matsuri.1212 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 Matsuri285 views
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Fukushima Waraji Matsuri255 views
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231 views
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Many of the dancers wore waraji-related things.225 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.216 views
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This girl's homemade happi coat says "Waraji Matsuri."193 views
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Awards ceremony. The festival ended at about 9:30 pm.161 views
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A trio of belly dancers.156 views
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Notice anything unusual about these hula dancers?150 views
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Look at their footwear. They are wearing a pair of waraji straw sandals.147 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)145 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.137 views
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A panel of judges were there to judge the dancers.136 views
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129 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.123 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. 122 views
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School girls122 views
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Eisa group from Okinawa122 views
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Near the intersection of Ekimae-dori and Route 13 was this entertainment stage.121 views
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They also displayed this giant golden waraji.121 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.121 views
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Closeup of the giant waraji. 119 views
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Announcement of the winners.119 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.118 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.118 views
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118 views
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117 views
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A good-size crowd watched the dance contest.116 views
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Ekimae-dori street leading to Fukushima Station is closed to traffic.115 views
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Giant golden waraji had ema votive tablets written with people's wishes.115 views
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They weren't wearing waraji.115 views
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Apparently, it was their first time to appear in this festival.114 views
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Some fireworks114 views
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At the intersection. Notice the giant waraji straw sandal.113 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).111 views
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Finally at 7:30 pm, the main event called Dancing Soda Night started along Route 13 and Ekimae-dori.111 views
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111 views
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111 views
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111 views
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Many of the dance groups were from dance studios or schools.111 views
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111 views
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The giant golden waraji was used to open the waraji races on the second day of the festival.110 views
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110 views
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109 views
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109 views
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Hula dancers104 views
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