 Most viewed - Koenji Awa Odori Dance 高円寺阿波おどり |
These days, they have 10,000 dancers from 70 dance groups and over 1 million spectators. Also see the video at YouTube.323 viewsいろは連
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Koenji Awa Odori, Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連280 views
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Koenji Awa Odori, Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連278 views
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Crowd at JR Koenji Station on Awa Odori night.213 viewsThe Koenji Awa Odori is basically a parade of dancers. Many groups of dancers from various parts of Japan participate in the parade that follows the main shopping streets near Koenji Station on the Japan Railways Chuo Line in Tokyo.
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The troupe can consist of children (as young as age 2 or 3), women, and men.199 viewsThe Awa Odori originated 400 years ago in Tokushima Prefecture (in Shikoku) where it is one of Japan's most famous festivals. Although it is not as large as the one in Tokushima, the Koenji Awa Odori in Tokyo has become a major summer festival in Tokyo.
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The dancers hop on one leg.188 viewsSo what is Tokushima's Awa Odori doing in Koenji, Tokyo? It was first organized by a youth group of Koenji's retail merchants in 1957. They wanted to hold an event to attract more shoppers to the area. Neighboring town Asagaya had already started the Tanabata Festival in 1954. The Tanabata Matsuri, of course, is from up north in Sendai, Miyagi Pref. So the Koenji folks decided to transplant a southern festival to Koenji. That was the Awa Odori.
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連185 views
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連183 views
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Koenji has many shopping arcades and side streets teeming with eateries.182 views
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JR Koenji Station and Awa Odori sign.176 views
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連174 views
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The dancers wear a light kimono and half-moon straw hats.173 views
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After it's over...171 views
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The Koenji Awa Odori has become a major summer festival in Tokyo. It had a humble beginning in 1957 when it was originally called the Koenji Baka Odori. "Baka" means fool.169 views
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The parade route centers on JR Koenji Station. There are wide and narrow portions of the route.166 viewsIf it rains, they may stop the festival early.
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美遊ひよこ連165 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連165 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連162 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連161 views
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連161 views
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Tokyo Aoi-ren 東京葵連160 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連159 views
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The dance troupe typically has subgroups of children, women, men, and musicians. Suiko-ren 吹鼓連158 views吹鼓連
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158 views美遊ひよこ連
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連156 views
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Tengu-ren 天狗連156 views
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Budo-ren 富道連155 views富道連
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連155 views
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Tengu-ren 天狗連155 views
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153 views美遊ひよこ連
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Other dancers might also wear a simpler outfit of short pants and happi coat. Swinging around a fan is also common.152 views花の木連
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美遊ひよこ連152 views
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Bikkuri-ren びっくり連151 views
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連150 views
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連150 views
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連149 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連149 views
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One trademark of the dancers is the crescent-shaped straw hats.148 views
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The dance troupes come from in and out of town. A few from Tokushima as well as Kanagawa, Chiba, Shizuoka, and other prefectures. Edokko-ren 江戸っ子連148 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連148 views
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The men look more like the "fools."147 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連147 views
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The first Koenji Awa Odori in 1957 had only 57 dancers and about 2,000 spectators. Iroha-ren いろは連146 viewsThere are now about 30 to 40 Awa Odori parades held in Tokyo alone, usually in shopping areas. The one in Koenji is the largest in Tokyo.
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These pictures show over 40 dance troupes which I photographed in 2004 and 2005. Budo-ren 富道連146 views富道連
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Many of the troupe names have pretty meanings such as Maicho-ren which means "Dancing Butterfly." 舞蝶連146 views
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連146 views
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Tatsuno Otoshiko-ren たつのおとし子連146 views
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Kokesaku-ren 苔作連144 views
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連144 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連144 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連144 views
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Shamisen player who knows how to smile for my camera. Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連144 views
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Musicians always bring up the rear of the dance troupe. Taiko drums, flutes, and shamisen. The Awa Odori has a distinct rhythm and beat. It really makes you want to get up and dance.143 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連143 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連143 views
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Each dance troupe starts with a lantern bearer showing the name of the troupe.142 viewsThe dance is quite simple. While bobbing up and down, the dancer holds her hands above the head and shakes the fingers. This hand gesture indicates that the person has gone crazy. It is therefore nicknamed the "fool's dance." The dance is held on the last weekend in August.
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Tokushima and Tokyo have the most number of Awa Odori troupes with 40 to 50 each.142 viewsEdokko-ren 江戸っ子連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連142 views
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Taiko drummers jamming. Tensui-ren 天水連142 views
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The dancers also let out a yell as they dance. Hana-no-ki-ren 花の木連141 views
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Kokesaku-ren 苔作連141 views
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140 viewsEdokko-ren 江戸っ子連
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Maicho-ren 舞蝶連140 views
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It is most crowded along the large avenues. The crowd is several rows deep. Those in the front are expected to sit down.139 views
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Silver-ren 志留波阿連139 views
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連138 views
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Each dance troupe is called a "ren." This is the Suiko-ren. 吹鼓連138 views
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きたまちじゃじゃ馬連138 views
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Midori-ren 美踊連138 views
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The Aoi Shin-ren is from Koenji and one of the largest Awa Odori troupes. They are great performers and one of my favorites.138 views
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連137 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連137 views
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Tensho-ren 天翔連137 views
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A few troupes are company-sponsored and take on the company's name like this one, a construction company.136 viewsThere is even the Microsoft-ren. (Not pictured here.)
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F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連136 views
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連136 views
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連135 views
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連135 views
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Tengu-ren 天狗連135 views
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Kimagu-ren きまぐ連134 views
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134 viewsMidori-ren 美踊連
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連134 views
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Midori-ren 美踊連133 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連132 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連132 views
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連131 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連131 views
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Hyottoko-ren ひょっとこ連131 views
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Sometimes you see a gaijin participant. F.I.A.-ren えふあいえい連130 views
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連130 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連130 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連130 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連129 views
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Goraku-ren 伍楽連129 views
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Zomeki-renju 騒連中129 views
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Suzaku-ren 朱雀連129 views
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Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連129 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連129 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連128 views
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Tatsuno Otoshiko-ren たつのおとし子連128 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連128 views
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連128 views
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きたまちじゃじゃ馬連127 views
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連127 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連126 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連126 views
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連125 views
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124 views
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Tensui-ren 天水連124 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連124 views
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連124 views
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連123 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連123 views
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Suzaku-ren 朱雀連123 views
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連123 views
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Aoi Shin-ren 葵新連122 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連122 views
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Asuka-ren 飛鳥連122 views
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連122 views
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Narimasu Child-ren 成増チルド連122 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連121 views
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Mitaka-ren みたか連120 views
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Yurikamome-ren ゆりかもめ連120 views
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From the Suginami Ward Office, Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連120 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連120 views
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Sharaku-ren 写楽連119 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連119 views
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Musashi Minami-ren むさし南連119 views
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Damudan-ren だむだん連119 views
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Suiren 粋輦119 views
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Zomeki-renju 騒連中119 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連118 views
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Ageo Koiki-ren (from Saitama) あげお小粋連117 views
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Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連117 views
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Hanamichi-ren 花道連117 views
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Sazanka-ren 杉並区役所さざんか連117 views
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116 viewsSharaku-ren 写楽連
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Edo Kabuki-ren 江戸歌舞伎連115 views
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Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連114 views
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Koganei is a city in Tokyo with a park famous for sakura cherry blossoms. Koganei Sakura-ren 小金井さくら連114 views
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Shinobu-ren しのぶ連114 views
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Narimasu Child-ren 成増チルド連112 views
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Suiren 粋輦111 views
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110 views
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My video of 2016 Koenji Awa Odori (56 troupes) 第60回高円寺阿波おどり 56連の総集編 75 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2013 Part 2/3 第57回 東京高円寺阿波おどり 総集編73 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2013 Part 3/3 第57回 東京高円寺阿波おどり 総集編71 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 1/3 - Kokesaku 苔作71 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2011 Part 2/2 高円寺阿波おどり70 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 2/3 - Kikusui-ren 菊水会菊水連70 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2011 Part 1/2 高円寺阿波おどり69 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2009 Part 3/3 - Asuka-ren 飛鳥連69 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2015 第59回高円寺阿波おどり 40連の総集編68 views
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My video of Koenji Awa Odori 2013 Part 1/3 第57回 東京高円寺阿波おどり 総集編67 views
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My video of Maicho-ren at 2023 Koenji Awa Odori on Aug. 26, 2023.27 views
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My video of 2023 Koenji Awa Odori. 第64回高円寺阿波おどり 23 views
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My video of 2018 Koenji Awa Odori 第62回高円寺阿波おどり 22 views
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My video of Sharaku-ren 写楽連 at 2023 Koenji Awa Odori on Aug. 26, 2023.21 views
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My video of Hanamichi-ren 花道連 at 2023 Koenji Awa Odori on Aug. 26, 2023.20 views
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My video of 2017 Koenji Awa Odori (56 troupes) 第61回高円寺阿波おどり 17 views
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