The whole town is wrapped up in a frenzy!
A guide to Tokyo's top 3 festivals!
Tokyo’s top 3 festivals are held every year at the end of August, one after another. Dancers gather from around Japan and the towns—the festivals’ venues—become a whirl of enthusiasm! We will introduce the highlights of each festival, including the dance themes and things you can enjoy aside from watching. (Top image: Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Festival 2013)
Fashion towns go crazy over the “Yosakoi” dance!
“Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Festival 2013”
Held on 8/24 (Sat.) and 25 (Sun.)
“Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Festival” is held in Harajuku Omotesando, one of the centers from which trends originate. Around 100 teams from around the country, totaling approximately 5,000 dancers, gather to show off their energetic “Yosakoi.”
“Yosakoi” refers to the “Yosakoi Naruko Odori” dance, which originated in Kochi, where it's said that the people expressed the state of rice cultivation through dance. The dance consists of three basic rules: First, people hold “Naruko”--tools used to shoo sparrows from rice fields--and clap them. Second, they use a portion of the melody from “Yosakoi Naruko Odori.” Third, they dance while progressing down the street.
The true charm of watching is the “Nagashi Odori,” where performers dance right before the audience’s eyes!
In this festival, held in Harajuku Omotesando, local folk songs and children’s songs can be used in place of the melody from “Yosakoi Naruko Odori.” One of the highlights is seeing each team's costumes and dances, as each team is free to choose their melodies and choreography.
The stage performance is in full swing! In addition to the dances, the colorful costumes will also draw you in.
There are five venues from which “Yosakoi” can be viewed. You can see the performers dancing while progressing forward at “NHK Mae Street” and “Omotesando Avenue,” and the stage performances unfold at the “Harajuku-Guchi Stage,” the “Bunkakan Stage,” and the “Jiman -ichi Stage.” Please enjoy a stroll around the area while taking in this red hot performance, which sweeps these popular areas into a frenzy!
Point of Note #1
The “Nagashi Odori,” for which Omotesando is rented out, will dazzle your senses!
From 12:15PM to 4:45PM, Omotesando Avenue overflows with Yosakoi spirit!
On 8/25, the traffic on Omotesando is controlled, and the “Nagashi Odori” dance is held. Playing out at an exquisite location lined with zelkova trees (Keyaki Namiki), this dynamic parade is a must see!
Point of Note #2
“U-1 Grand Prix,” where you can try udon noodles from around Japan, will be held for the first time
This is “Jiman-ichi,” lined with vending and tourism PR booths.
Yoyogi Park is home to “Jiman -ichi,” where specialties from around Japan are sold. At the food and drink area this year, “U-1 Grand Prix” will be held. Udon from around Japan will be gathered and the best udon in the country will be decided. Don't miss this fantastic chance to compare udon from around 30 shops that boast delicious flavors!
Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Festival 2013
Venue: NHK Mae Keyaki Namiki, Yoyogi Park, Meiji Shrine, Omotesando, Harajuku, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Duration: Sat., 8/24 10AM - 8PM (opening ceremony 11:30AM - 12PM); Sun., 8/25 10AM - 5:30PM (differs by venue)
Questions: Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Festival Office
Phone: 03-5766-1320
http://www.yosakoi-harajuku.com/
You'll be glued in place by the music that echoes through the town and the nimble dancing!
“The 57th Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Festival”
Held on 8/24 (Sat.) and 25 (Sun.)
The “Awa Odori” dance is a traditional art from Tokushima that boasts 400 years of history. Tens of people gather in groups called “ren” and dance through the streets to the musical accompaniment of shamisen, flutes, and taiko drums. It is notable for the dynamic male dancers and limber female dancers, and you'll be drawn into the excitement and find your body moving as well!
The Awa Odori Festival in Tokushima City, Tokushima prides itself as the largest in Japan, but the next largest in scale is “Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Festival,” held in Koenji. It began as an affair that took place on just one shopping street, but it has grown into an event with approximately 10,000 dancers, with the cheers of about 950,000 people spurring the excitement.
The Awa Odori is counted as one of Japan’s top 3 Bon Odori dances.
The instruments, such as the shamisen, taiko drums, and flutes, are the highlights. The rhythm and melody are expressed in a variety of ways, such as the pounding excitement of the ren playing percussion and the refinement of the ren playing the shamisen. Enjoy the beautiful dance performance to your heart's content while feeling the power of the raw sounds with your skin.
On the same day as the Awa Odori, a regularly held festival takes place at Hikawa Shrine, the home of the local deity. Street stalls line around the shrine grounds, and from 11AM - 3PM, portable shrines and floats go around the Koenji area. We recommend enjoying the shrine festival while waiting for Awa Odori to begin.
Point of Note #1
The real fun of Awa Odori is parading through the streets, where you can become immersed in the intensity!
There are eight performance locations on the Koenji Station shopping street and Konan Street. From 5PM - 8PM, dancers clothed in a variety of colors dance nimbly down the street. From skilled dancers to comical dancers, there are 10,000 in all - why not find your own star?
Point of Note #2
You can comfortably watch from a theater hall, too!
Before the actual Awa Odori performance, paid stage shows are held at two theater halls. If you're not confident in your ability to find a place to watch the dance in the performance area on the streets, you can watch while sitting comfortably in a seat, so don't worry!
Aside from ren from the Koenji area, there are also participants from a variety of other prefectures, such as Hokkaido.
The stage shows will be held on each day at "Za Koenji Hall 1" from 12PM - 3:30PM, and "Seshion Suginami Hall" from 11:30AM - 3:30PM.
57th Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Festival
Venues: JR Koenji Station shopping street & Konan Street Kita 2, 3 cho-me, Minami 2, 3, 4 cho-me
Suginami-ku, Tokyo
Duration: 5PM-8PM
Inquiries: Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Promotional Society Office (NPO)
Phone: 03-3312-2728
http://www.koenji-awaodori.com/
Asakusa, overflowing with “shitamachi”(old city) spirit, transformers into cheerful Brazil!
“32nd Asakusa Samba Carnival Parade Contest”
Held on 8/31 (Sat.)
Watch for the top dancers, who wear sashes and dance!
The splendid costumes and music are original creations of each team.
In Asakusa, the town of history and culture, what brings summer to a close is “Asakusa Samba Carnival Parade Contest,” Japan’s largest samba parade. You can witness a parade with authentic samba dancers from around Japan on a street with a view of famous tourist attractions such as Senso-ji Temple, Kaminarimon Gate, and Tokyo Sky Tree.
The highlights of the festival are the colorful, splendid costumes and the beautiful dancers who wear them! With the intense samba rhythm and the passionate performances, you’re sure to forget that you’re in the shitamachi area of Tokyo. Before and after the festival, be sure to take a tour of Asakusa, overflowing with the atmosphere of ancient Tokyo!
Point of Note
The parade is actually a serious contest.
The parade is a contest made up of two leagues. If a team wins in the S2 league, the next year they’ll be promoted to the S1 league, where a large-scale team structure of over 150 people and allegoria handcarts are permitted. It is truly exciting to watch each team compete for victory.
The allegoria carts, which only teams participating in the S1 league are permitted to use, show individuality!
There are also lots of unique performances.
“32nd Asakusa Samba Carnival Parade Contest”
Venue: Basha Street to Kaminarimon Street, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Duration: 1PM - 6PM * Parade contest: 1:30PM~
Inquiries: Asakusa Samba Carnival Executive Committee Office
Phone: 03-3847-0038 (reception is until the beginning of September)
http://www.asakusa-samba.org/
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