Shimokitazawa Awaodori 1
I managed to visit the second awaodori festival for the season! No mean feat in this busy life of ours. This time it was the Shimokitazawa Awaodori Matsuri (下北沢阿波踊り祭り) and for once, they managed to get a video up on their homepage! If you have a few minutes to spare it’s definitely worth a visit.
Shimokitazawa is, for those of you who haven’t been to Tokyo, the hippest place to be in the whole of Japan. Or at least it used to, about 10 years ago it broke out big time as the happening place to be for young artists, designers, people of alternative lifestyles and a very international slant (without the party scene of Roppongi or the money of the rich expats in Azabujuban). Usually, these festivals are so packed with performers that the parade moves at snail pace (perfect for photographers like me who have ample time to focus in these low light difficult-to-auto-focus situations, this time however the teams could move at normal speed! I had to fight hard to keep up with them and I had much fewer in focus shots than normal. Still, the kids teams were as cute as ever! Every time I go I think “this team is the cutest I have ever seen” and this time was no exception. The boy in the first picture went totally out of character and posed for me despite it being against the rules, the little rascal! I also loved the look on the face of the girl in the third picture, the first shot is where she sees me, the second shot is when she has gotten self-conscious about the camera. How sweet! If you’ve been following this blog for more than a few hours you’ll know I can’t stop myself from posting festival photos, so enjoy these, there are more coming later this week!
shimokita has an odori matsuri?? I’m sad I missed it, I love that area
Hi Fritz! I was actually thinking about you today, wondering what happened to you? Glad to see you’re back! Yes, I had no idea either. I actually found their festival through the Japanese Wikipedia entry on Awaodori where there was a link to a page linking a bunch of festivals in the kanto area. It is very small and very very photographer friendly.
don’t worry, still reading your blog everyday. but since leaving japan it’s hard to comment without saying “wuhuuu I miss Japan!!” all the time…
You left Japan?! I had no idea… yeah, I think you’re right… I’d probably go crazy if I didn’t live in Tokyo!
love the photos!
Thanks! Looking forward to seeing more of your blog as well! (^0^)
Once again thanks a lot!
All what I love!
Cute and smiling little boy… cute little girls… beautiful costumes..
The young lady with the straw hat is so graceful!!
How long is the summer festival season????
Thank you Lili, glad you enjoy them and keep coming back! The summer festival season actually ended last week but it sort of drags on into the autumn festival season! Things tend to slow down in October though. I do have festivals all through November penciled into my schedule though. And then there’s the Christmas and New Year Events, and then it all starts over again in May…!
He’s cute the little boy. … and his cheeks? – ahh.. I just want to pinch ‘em
I didn’t know it was against the rule if you pose? – Any particular reason?
I don’t know why but I’m always fascinated by the combination of the color for the dresses. – > I love them.
I’m starting to get addicted to those Awaodori festivals
(eh..well at least the pictures. I haven’t been to japan yet)
They are there to dance, not to pose! haha… I think. Also, it is a choregraphed dance so that when they do stop (as happens sometimes) they all stop and strike the same pose, unlike this boy (^-^;)
Indeed, the colors are lovely! I’m addicted already, please be careful, or you’ll soon find yourself in Tokyo and be totally unable to go back home!
yeah I had to leave, my visa ended.. a shame really, I had many assignments in the end, that I couldn’t complete. so now I’m back to Berlin but still bloggin some stories from japan. I plan to go back to Tokyo soon, for the awesomeness of the city and to complete some jobs. but before I have to pay some bills, buy new camera equipment, a plane ticket and get enough money for tokyo’s rent. oh boy, that maybe will take a while..
I’m sorry to hear that…! I know what a bummer it is not being able to live in the country you love just because of some papers and stamps. Well, Berlin is a good place to work and a good place to save on money, so get cracking! And, you’ll have a good opportunity to spend some long winter nights at home studying those kanji you need…! As for camera equipment, I think you are doing perfectly fine with whatever you are using right now!
I don’t know, my camera is pretty slow and with just 3 areas where it measures the light, pretty bad in not-so-good light situation. and as a photojournalist, I can’t really change the setting, I have to adjust to it – and if my camera can’t adjust to that, it doesn’t work… besides, I only have two lenses, that’s not something you would call professional
that I’m able to take decent shots with this camera is because I tweak a lot and go to the limits of the camera.
and let me tell you: berlin’s not a good place to work as a photographer
got my old job back at the newpaper (biggest in berlin). they pay 25€ (around 3000yen) per picture!! not including pre- and postproduction or working hours -.-
Fritz – if all they pay is 25 euro a picture I wouldn’t bother upgrading! I’ve had my fair share of people who go “oooh, what a great camera you must have” when they see my photos! In reality, it is all about the photographer. Sure, a fancy camera lets you play around more but it doesn’t let you take better pictures. As a photo journalist you might not be able to change the situation but you can always adapt the way you take pictures. As long as your camera has a hot shoe, a manual setting and a place to mount it on a tripod for longer exposures, you should be fine! Your photos are more than fine already. I don’t think the quality of your photos come from your skilled “tweaking of your hardware”, it comes from you! I have seen much better equipped shooters not get half as good pics as you do on a regular basis! Many of my favorite shooters shot their best work with what would today be considered a piece of metal junk, and my favorite camera of all times is still with me, a dirt simple, 100% manual, not even exposure meter, Hasselblad 500C.
If anything, you should downgrade! (^-^)
End of rant… haha…
This is a great site. I have some pics from the Saipan Awadori Dance Team that you should check out on my site.
Thanks! I saw your site and I recognize some of the kids from my pictures! Thanks for sharing! (^-^)