Awaodori Restaurant – Performance

As a continuation of yesterday’s post, here’s more snapshots of the performance at the Awaodori Restaurant in Nishi Ginza, my new favorite izakaya here in Tokyo! The teams responsible for the two nightly shows are rotated member teams from the Koenji Awaodori association (and sometimes unaffiliated teams as well, I hear), the most influential awaodori team association in Tokyo. When I visited, it was the Edo Kabukiren doing a great performance with some of their best dancers and musicians. As part of the show visitors are also encouraged to join in the dance – the basic movements are very simple and takes about 30 seconds to learn – and several diners took the chance to really give their best! A handsome and very uncommonly bearded father did a great job (as did his entire family, including his very enthusiastic son), as well as some of the better looking attending business men in the audience. A couple of foreigner did their best as well, as one of them even landed the participation price that is handed out to a couple of the audience dancers. Naturally, I was busy with my camera, and besides, if I ever joined a team it wouldn’t be as a dancer! Really, I can’t recommend this restaurant enough. Great food, great service, great location (right in the middle of Yurakucho, Shimbashi and Ginza stations, about as central as you can get), great entertainment and decent prices. You simply must go!

Awaodori Restaurant – Nishi Ginza

I have a new favorite restaurant! The Awaodori in Nishi Ginza, right between Yurakucho and Shimbashi stations on the Yamanote line in central Tokyo. Not only is the cooking fantastic, the food is all from the holy homeland of Awaodori on Shikoku island, Tokushima, but you also get to enjoy a live Awaodori performance from some great groups right here in Tokyo. Technically, it is an “izakaya”, a place that is more about drinking and having a lively time out with colleagues and friends but I would also recommend it for anyone on a date or anyone just interested in Tokushima cuisine. When I was there the restaurant was visited by members of the great Edo Kabuki Ren (江戸歌舞伎連) who gave a great performance despite the cramped location and cold spring weekday atmosphere! The best thing though, about this restaurant, is that now I finally have a place where I can show visiting foreign friends what real Awaodori looks like, practically twice an evening all year around! I’ll post some more pictures from the performance tomorrow. Just one thing first – doesn’t the man in the third to last photo look like a very tall version of a Japanese Johnny Vegas (actor/comedian)?

Asakusa Kaminariren – Sakurabashi Hanamatsuri Part 2

Second part of the lovely Asakusa Kaminariren and their smashing new uniforms! They are seriously photogenic and their very hansome, beautiful, cute, funny, members sure help round out the aesthetic side of their performance. They also have an unusually well established shamisen section, something that we as spectators aren’t usually so lucky to see. Can’t wait to see them again soon! And is it just me, or is there something Russell Crowe-ish about the man in the fifth photo from the bottom?

Asakusa Kaminariren – Sakurabashi Hanamatsuri Part 1

On the first of April I went to see the Sakurabashi Hanamatsuri (桜橋花祭り) in Asakusa’s Sumida Park, right next to Sumida river. I had heard that there would be a couple of Awaodori teams performing so naturally I had to go! I was lucky enough to catch the newly named Asakusa Kaminariren (浅草雷連) with their handsome new uniforms in white, red and purple. Before the name change they were known as Sharakuren. It was a wonderfully clear day with a burning sun that made it really difficult to balance the bright light and the shadows of the photographs. Still, I got a few good snaps of this wonderful Awaodori team! The first real, live Awaodori parade of the year for me!