Hatsudai Awaodori Festival – Kurenairen

The last two months have been heaven for us Awaodori dance fans here in Tokyo! Last weekend there was the annual festival in Hatsudai, making it the possibly the most centrally located of the major awaodori festivals. It is a two day event but I only had time to visit on the first day, but I would have loved to have seen the second day as well as there was a bit of rain to make it all interesting! These photos are of the Kurenairen (紅連) and some of their coolest dancers and musicians. Isn’t that smile on the girl in fifth photo just wonderful! I think she is just in the middle of singing that famous awaodori song phrase “やっぱり、おどりはやめられない”, “after all, I can’t stop dancing” (in my own poor translation).

More Shinoburen – Shimokitazawa Awaodori

More pictures of the wonderful Shinoburen (しのぶ連 or 忍連) at last months Shimokitazawa Awaodori festival in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward. Can’t get enough of this group and their superbly timed dancing. They really work hard to make the most use of the long stretch of road in their dances with some more intricate maneuvers. Enjoy!

Shinoburen – Shimokitazawa

At the annual Awaodori festival in Shimokitazawa the Shinoburen (しのぶ連 or 忍連) did a great performance as usual. For some reason I always end up with pretty decent shots of this group’s performance. They have some excellent drummers and a wide range of talented dancers and I guess they are one of the most famous Awaodori groups out of Suginami ward in central Tokyo.I took these with my Nikon D700 and 50mm prime lens combination. More photos to come this week of this excellent group! Enjoy!

Cool Mist Machine

When the thermometer refuses to go below 35 degrees for week after week, there’s only one thing to do, bring out the big guns! At some places around Tokyo you can spot these huge mist cannons, blasting out a fine water mist that makes the air just that little more bearable. And of course, they are great for drawing crowds! I think the biggest ones I have seen so far is at the platform of the Korakuen Staiton on the Marunouchi line, but this one on the foot of Tokyo Sky Tree isn’t bad either!