Asakusa Bon Odori 2024
I have never photographed a Bon Odori festival for this blog. So when I saw one scheduled in Asakusa in front of Sensoji temple, I jumped at the chance to go. The venue was the road in front of the famous Kaminarimon gate. It was a big night of Japanese dance.
The Bon Odori is a traditional Japanese dance with accompanying music. It takes place around a raised podium called a “yagura.” A taiko drummer keeps the rhythm. People wear the traditional summer dress of Japan, the yukata. That’s something like a lightweight kimono.
Asakusa Bon Odori 2024 drew a huge crowd. There must have been several thousand people. Foreign tourists were there too. Some watched, but many participated in the dances. Everyone could join in the fun.
At the Bon Odoris I’ve been to, a “yagura” is in the middle. That is a raised platform for a taiko (Japanese drum) player, singers, and dancers. This wasn’t the case here.
Asakusa Bon Odori 2024 was held on the road in front of Kaminarimon. It’s a busy place. The road was blocked for it. Everything needed to be set up and taken down again quickly. So the dancers and musicians were split.
The dancers got the yagura and the taiko musicians were on the road. There was quite a large space between them. It was unusual. I’d never seen it before. Still, it worked!
What is Bon Odori?
Bon Odori is more than a traditional dance. It’s an expression of gratitude and remembrance. The festival takes place during Obon, a three-day period typically held in mid-August. Ancestors’ spirits return to visit their living relatives. The dance is a central element of these celebrations. It offers a way for people to pay their respects while fostering a sense of community.
What is the Bon Odori dance?
The dances of Bon Odori are characterized by their simplicity and inclusiveness. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a newcomer, you can easily get swept up in the rhythm. The dance steps are repetitive and easy to follow. Everyone can join in.
Conclusion
I had a good time at Asakusa Bon Odori 2024. It was difficult to photograph, though. The dance started at 6 PM. And that was when sunset happened! I had only a tiny window of time to get pictures. To compound the problem there was a lack of street lighting too. It became dark quickly.
Japan has many dances and traditions. Many go back thousands of years but some are starting to fade away. So it was good to see local groups protecting them. In 100 years people will probably be doing the bon odori to the same music and with the same movements as we see today. Well, we have Asakusa Bon Odori 2025 to look forward to.
A note on the Asakusa Bon Odori 2024 photo editing
As I mentioned, many of these photos were taken in dark conditions. When I saw the results on my computer, they contained a lot of photographic noise. So most images in this article were processed with Adobe Lightroom’s AI to reduce it. I don’t enjoy doing that but it’s necessary. Hopefully, I’ll get a full-frame camera with better lowlight capabilities one day!
Rohan Gillett
Rohan lives in Tokyo's Suginami Ward with his wife and dog. He loves photography and okonomiyaki.
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External related websites:
Kaminarimon Bon Odori (official website)
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