This month features the post-pandemic return of my favorite festival, Koenji’s Awa Odori. There is a bonus Awa Odori festival from Shimokitazawa as well.
今月はパンデミックの後、高円寺阿波踊りという一番好きな祭の再開がありました。阿波踊りは下北沢でもう一つありました。
Mori Tower Tokyo City View
Mori Tower is one of the tallest buildings in Japan. Seated in Roppongi, its observation deck has a beautiful view of Tokyo Tower. I recommend skipping the associated modern art museum, though. It’s the first museum I have entered in Japan that was not worth the fee. The burger at the cafe was a gristly mess too.
六本木ヒルズ森タワーは高い日本の建物の中の一つです。六本木にあって展望台からは東京タワーの美しい景色が見えます。でもそこにあるモダンアートの芸術館はおすすめじゃありません。初めて日本で芸術館の入場料の価値がなかったと感じました。カフェのバーガーも軟骨が多過ぎました。
Shimokitazawa Awa Odori Festival
One week before the big Awa Odori festival in Koenji, the nearby town of Shimokitazawa held a preliminary event with about six groups. The festival was too small to recommend, but the city itself was pretty interesting. I have heard people criticize it for being too “hipster,” but I saw a lot of interesting restaurants and shops. I will probably return when the weather cools.
大きい高円寺の阿波踊の一週間前、下北沢と言う近い町で六団体ぐらいの阿波踊りがありました。おすすめができるには小さすぎたけれど下北沢は面白かったです。ヒップスター(通すぎる)と言う人がいるけれど、面白い店とレストランを見ました。涼しくなる頃また行くでしょう。
Koenji Awa Odori
Anyone who has ever talked to me about Japan has probably had to hear about my favorite festival. After a four-year delay due to the pandemic, I was once again able to enjoy the food, music, and dance of this three-hour parade. Because I attended both evenings, I stopped taking photos and videos long enough to stroll around and see the festival adjacent to the show. For such a small town, the giant party continues street after street. The vibe was joyous and contagious.
私の日本についての話を聴いたことある人は、多分一番好きな祭の事を聞いたに違いないと思います。パンデミックのせいで四年間ぶりに久しぶりに行進音楽と踊りや食べ物を楽しみました。２日間夕方に出席したから写真とビデオを撮るのを辞めて散歩しながら行進の周りの祭を見られました。高円寺は小さい町だけれど大勢の人だかりが次から次へと通りに続きました。雰囲気がよくてその楽しさが続きました。
Miscellaneous Photos
Broadway Art Exhibit 
Broadway Toys 01 
Broadway Toys 02 
Broadway Toys 03 
Star Wars Glasses 01 
Star Wars Glasses 02 
Kanda 
My Old Record Player
