The Beauty of Geisha Dancing Awa Odori at the “Kagurazaka Festival 2024”: The Charm that Increases by Concealing

Awa Odori Has Begun in Kagurazaka

On the third day of the “Kagurazaka Matsuri (Festival) 2024” (July 26, 2024), an Awa Odori competition was held. Members of the Diet, the mayor of Shinjuku, and Shinjuku ward council members watched the Awa Odori from the VIP seats, enjoying the festival at its peak.

Today is the final day, and, like the third day, another Awa Odori is scheduled. According to the organizers, 150,000 people are expected to participate in the “Kagurazaka Festival 2024.”

Kagurazaka and Awa Odori Share a Connection Dating Back Nearly 400 Years

The reason for holding the Awa Odori in Kagurazaka stems from the historical connection to the ‘Ushigome Gate’ at Edo Castle, which was built in 1636 by Tadahide Hachisuka, the lord of the Awa Tokushima domain. Thanks to this nearly 400-year-old connection, a grand Awa Odori competition has been held in Kagurazaka since 1972. Awa Odori is characterized by women wearing unique long woven hats that partially conceal their faces, creating a state where the face is almost but not quite visible.

Awa Odori: A Dance Created by Geisha Culture

In Tokushima, it is said that in the 1930s, there were over 200 geisha (geiko), boasting a scale larger than that of Kyoto. By partially hiding their faces, Awa Odori stirs the audience’s imagination and draws out more allure and charm. This aspect of Awa Odori was established through geisha culture (Source: “Tsuda College Bulletin,” Atsuko Kobayashi). This unique allure of Awa Odori suits Kagurazaka, one of Tokyo’s leading entertainment districts, due to this background.

Geisha Danced Awa Odori at the “Kagurazaka Festival 2024”

The “Kagurazaka Festival 2024” marks the 50th-anniversary festival, considering the cancellations caused by COVID-19 in previous years. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, Kagurazaka Geisha Mayumi and Kiyono also performed Awa Odori at the “Kagurazaka Festival 2024.”

Kiyono is the most popular geisha in Kagurazaka, capable of both dancing (Tachikata) and performing songs and shamisen (Jikata). However, even when Kiyono and Mayumi’s dance passed in front of the VIP seats, there was no announcement like “Here come the geisha” or “The geisha are dancing,” and almost no one noticed their performance.

Not Advertising the Fact that Geisha are Dancing is Part of Kagurazaka’s “Iki” (Sophistication)

This understated elegance is unique to the sophisticated town of Kagurazaka. Like Awa Odori, the charm increases by concealing. It’s the sentiment of wanting only those who know them to notice. This sophistication can be expressed in the Japanese term “Iki.” “Iki” also connects to the concept of wabi-sabi. Those interested in stone gardens, Zen temples, zazen meditation, tea ceremonies, and flower arrangements will likely understand this “Iki.”

Kagurazaka has long been known as an ‘Iki’ (sophisticated) town. The cobblestone alleys are part of it, but the town’s charm lies in the sentiment of “wanting only those who know to notice.”

Can you appreciate this understated elegance?

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How to Access Kagurazaka

The Kagurazaka area is conveniently located within 30 minutes from any major station in Tokyo. This is because Kagurazaka is situated in the heart of Tokyo, at the center of the Yamanote Line. Please come and visit this convenient and charming Kagurazaka.