The latest dance title “Ironowa” debuted at Shonan Yosakoi Festival 2025, and ranked 3rd in the street performance category. It depicts amusement parks where you had fun time in your childhood.
Can you spot a naruko clapper hidden in the design of the costume? A distinctive frill and a notched collar, which are both rare in yosakoi outfit, enhance a joyful mood of the performance.
The song sounds innocent but in fact dancers are challenged with tricky rhythms like triplets, four-beat waltz, sudden meter changes, and irregular time signatures.
We picked up some quality performance videos on YouTube. Best experienced with stable volume feature disabled.
Tokyo Hanabi is a yosakoi dance team formed in 2005 by a few students from Waseda University, and now it has grown to boast 150+ members. Yosakoi is a freeform dance with two simple rules: hold wooden clappers called naruko in hands, and incorporate the yosakoibushi melody into dance songs. Hanabi uses some extra props matoi and sensu in addition to naruko as illustrated below.
Learn more: Yosakoi, Waseda University, Yosakoibushi
“Amatsukasa” is now available on music streaming services including Apple Music, YouTube Music, Spotify, LINE MUSIC, and Amazon Music. It reached #4 on Apple Music Enka Chart on Dec 3, 2024 🎉
There is no announcement so far regarding “Ironowa”.
The 19th annual dance title “Amatsukasa” portrays an elusive dragon thriving in the sky. Guess the true identity of the dragon before proceeding to the translated lyrics below. Enjoy vigorous choreography and music!
Prologue: Amatsukasa is descending upon us ― the majestic dragon that once reigned over and blessed the heavens 🐉
Tokyo Hanabi arrives, shaking the heavens with its glory. Its swaying sleeves recall a dragon’s tail.
The sky fades into dusk. Our days are but fleeting bubbles.
Once upon a time, Amatsukasa reigned over and blessed the heavens. It rises into the moonlit sky, cloaking itself in the clouds at dawn, so the legend says.
Mist trails in the dim sky. One falls into slumber and hardly notices a silhouette against the hazy moon.
A flash of lightning rips through the faint horizon where heaven and earth merge. Amatsukasa, come on and ascend high here and now! Its thundering heartbeat echoes far and near. Let it traverse the sky, leading the way to daybreak. Wrapped in rushing winds, it pierces the clouds and soars into the very heavens to embark on an eternal journey.
The Verse: Freshmen gather, juniors scatter ― as transient as fireworks festival. Yet the bonds we forged will eventually draw us back together. Enjoy yourself at Tokyo Hanabi, but remember, it’s once in a lifetime.
Bathed in bright light, it carries hope across the night sky, resembling a single streak of a shooting star. Fly high and higher, Amatsukasa! It endures ever-circling seasons and aeons to celebrate the dawn after a good long night. The morning sun shines into eyes and glows upon the world. Entrusted by the people with grace and hope, Amatsukasa sets out on an eternal pilgrimage.
Epilogue: But what is Amatsukasa in the end? ― It is none other than Tokyo Hanabi XIX.
The official LINE sticker collection “Tokyo Hanabi Life” is out! It includes 40 colorful stickers that make your chat with your family, friends, and love more fun.
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