Our community has an annual festival (matsuri) this weekend. Yesterday we had perfect weather, so we all walked over the enjoy the festivities: taiko drums, local vendors in stalls hawking their wares, crowds of families and children, and dancers. Last year I photographed the dancing, and I wanted to try my luck at that again. First, I walked over to see the taiko drummers, but there was no way to get close enough to get the kind of shot I wanted.
While I was walking past the events, I thought about how much I enjoy these brief periods of warm community in Japan. It’s as if festival crowds emerge from hiding. If so, I wish I could figure out where they’re at the rest of the time.
The dancing is particularly energetic and colorful. Last year they performed in large troupes, but yesterday evening I only saw this group of local dancers ranging in age from about seven to seventy. I saw two or three people with Down’s Syndrome in the mix. Again, what a diverse community! But…wait, they are all wearing the same clothing right down to their slippers, and their moves are perfectly choreographed (well, most of the time). The sameness struck me as a feature of community when it appears in Japan. When my wife saw these pictures, she spontaneously made the same observation. Being in a large group all dressed the same and moving together provides a kind of security that allows extraordinary things to happen.
This dancing is a blend of traditional movements with thoroughly modern innovations. The pace is rapid; it’s fun and a real workout; and you get the impression of hip-hop somewhere in the background. The kids love it. There are more traditional dance groups in the community, but they are mostly made up of old women.
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