Back in Tokyo after 3 wks. in Michigan

Our trip back to Tokyo went about as well as could be expected for a long 13 hr. time in the air! Sleep eluded us, so we had our challenges getting over jet lag. However, we were warmly welcomed back as we again worshipped with our Tokyo Union Church family.

We learned that a huge event, the ”Yosakoi Dancing Parade” would be taking place for several blocks on Omotesando Ave. right in front of our church, Yosakoi is Japanese traditional dancing set to modern fast music. It’s quite a new thing, originally starting in the city of Koichi in 1954, however it is now very widespread across Japan. Towns and Cities small and large hold competitions, the most famous of which taking place in Tokyo, Sapporo and Nagasaki. Team members can be any age, often all dancing together. Children as young as five dancing alongside women in their sixties, who despite their age are surprisingly nimble. The costumes used by Yosakoi teams vary widely. Happi coats and yukata are the most predominant costumes and can be seen in a wide variety of colors. However, some groups choose costumes that are based on historical attire, popular fashions, or ethnic fashions. Typically, all members of a team wear similar costumes.
One of the defining aspects of Yosakoi dance is the use of naruko: small wooden clappers that are held in the hands of each dancer. Naruko were originally used in Kochi Prefecture to scare birds away from rice fields. The traditional naruko has black and yellow beaters on a wooden body, but most modern Yosakoi groups create their own naruko, choosing colors and materials that match their costumes. The use of naruko is required in Yosakoi dance, but many groups also use other hand-held instruments or props, such as drums, other percussion instruments, flags, batons, and floats.
Since its introduction in 1954, Yosakoi has become popular throughout the country of Japan. As of 2005, there were Yosakoi festivals and competitions in over 200 locations.
This was a national music and dance parade, the likes of which we’ve never seen. Lasting for almost 4 hours, there were marching dancing troupes all in different costume, dancing with rhythmic precision to very loud music from trucks which preceded each group. Interspersed at times, was a man, hoisting and waving a huge colorful flag….the size of which covered 4 lanes of traffic. What strength it took to wave these flags up and down and around without hitting anyone along the parade route!

Of course, this was the one time I had left my camera at the apartment, so no pictures! Evidently this kind of parade had its beginnings in the 1500’s, and has now again been revived, with competitions in many cities in Japan. It has come to Tokyo every year for the past 5 years, and to have this take place right on the same street as the church, made it easy to enjoy.