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Awa Odori
The pictures from the previous post were taken at “Awa Odori” 阿波踊り festival in Koenji (Tokyo) two weeks ago. It is a “matsuri” original from Tokushima (Shikoku), but it is also celebrated in Tokyo since the fifties.
I went with Roy who is very experienced, he is being attending Awa Odori during more than 15 years! He explained me all the different dancing styles (There is a dance called “the stupid dance”), why Awa Odori is different from other “matsuris”, and I also learned that 江戸っ子連 (Edokko-ren) is the best dancing group.
About the origin of Awa Odori, it seems that 500 years ago, a daimyo (feudal lord) from the Awa province organized a big party to celebrate a new castle’s inauguration. After drinking lots of sake, people started playing music, danced and ended up “making up” new dancing styles and songs that ended up becoming a tradition till our days.
Roy also helped me to get the BEST shooting point! I took more than 400 pics, here are some of the best ones. Look at the geta the girls are wearing, and how do they dance only using the first half of the shoe.
 | Geta - 下駄 |  | Katana |
 | Goemon |  | Black and white geisha |
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Comments
Lenners
04 September, 2007
Ah, in the 4th paragraph of your post, I think you mean to say “geta the girls are wearing”, otherwise you make it sound like the girls are the ones being worn ^^”
Aside from that, すごい～ Everything looks so colourful and fun!
sheerblade
04 September, 2007
Awesome pics Kirai. Looks like a fun place to be.
ap
04 September, 2007
This seems to be one of those “over-excitement” type of events. I wouldn’t want to be there, but it seems colorful nevertheless.
AbVag
05 September, 2007
Is their stupid dance anything similar to the Humpty Dance? Would anyone remember the Humpty Dance? LOL
Dru
06 September, 2007
Hey I usually read your blog. Good stuff. Both you and Danny Choo. I was also in Koenji. Took many pictures.
http://www.potenchial.com/photo/main.php?g2_itemId=10244
Marie
08 November, 2007
Really Great Pictures!
I read your site a lot, too. I agree with Dru, you and Danny Choo have a lot of good posts.
Marie
08 November, 2007
Really Great Pictures!
I read your blog, too. I agree with Dru, both you and Danny Choo have a lot of good posts.
Karasu-kun
23 March, 2008
Your pictures are great ^^. I like your appreciation for traditional culture, like the 900 year-old katana post.
Also, if I was a child and that man in the mask with the hood on came up to me, I would be traumatized forever. Because I scrolled down, and I’m a grown man, and it was still unnerving ^^;.
Karasu-kun
23 March, 2008
btw - What’s up with the 泥棒 hood on some of the dancers? I assume that it originated not from thieves, but you always see Japanese robbers in comedy sketches, anime, etc, with that same hood.