Last Saturday and Sunday the 10th (and last in its present form unfortunately) Odakkui Festival took place at various venues in the whole of Shizuoka City.
“Odakkui” means “Having a good time” in Shizuoka dialect!
Taking a well-earned rest!
Yesterday I first went to Gofuku Cho Street where the first part of the Festival took place on Sunday to have a good look first and choose a dance group to follow as there were too many to follow them all!
Ever idle Shizuoka policemen pretending to work…
Getting ready to start to the next venue!
I was particularly attracted by a troupe called Aichi Nishin, a enormous group coming all the way from Okazaki City and Nagoya City in neighboring Aichi Prefecture!
Reaching Sumpu Park!
They numbered no less than 120 who had come in three buses to spend the week-end in Shizuoka City.
They had already performed in Shimizu Harbor the previous afternoon!
Waiting for their turn in the shade!
I was really struck by their incredible discipline.
They are actually all, girls and a few boys, belonging to the same university as students or former students and members of this dance troupe practicing at university as a club counting no less than 150 members!
They were ever so polite when moving in double file everywhere, stopping to open gaps to let people pass through, saying thank you to everyone thousands of time and smiling, smiling, smiling!
No wonder they had been invited to all 10 editions of the festival!
Quietly waiting for their turn beside the main stage.
They even had their own coach!
Beautiful crest on their backs representing a golden bird. Can you guess which one?
It’s called “Hoo” for japanese Phoenix!
Great leadership and pep talk before their turn!
The last encouragements before taking stage!
Getting ready!
The name under which they had been announced: “Aichi Prefecture Okazaki City Bright Dance Troupe”!
Their leader greeting the audience. The sweet lady was almost bursting in tears because of the incredible pressure!
Incidentally this was also a contest sponsored by the city!
They did not win, but they were certainly the best in my own biaised view!
Starting!
Beautiful ladies everywhere!
And a few handsome boys my lady friends would certainly love to meet! LOL
Energy!
That flag!
Superb coordination!
Explosive enthusiasm!
Passion!
Devotion!
Smiling faces!
Reverence!
Guts!
Sexiness!
Giving everything!
Strength!
I wonder how long they practice to be able to perform with unflinching smiles in a cloud of dust!
Beautiful aggressiveness?
The Japanese can be so beautiful and sexy sometimes!
The souvenir photograph after the performance!
For all their smiles half of them, leader included, were in tears from all the presure to please!
I personally shook hands with the smiling and grateful (and still in tears) leader to thank her and all her friends and tell them they had been fantastic!
RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES
Kraemer’s Culinary blog by Frank Kraemer in New York,Tokyo Food File by Robbie Swinnerton, Green Tea Club by Satoshi Nihonyanagi in Shizuoka!, Mind Some by Tina in Taiwan, Le Manger by Camille Oger (French), The Indian Tourist, Masala Herb by Helene Dsouza in Goa, India, Mummy I Can Cook! by Shu Han in London, Pierre.Cuisine, Francescannotwrite, My White Kitchen, Foodhoe, Chucks Eats, Things that Fizz & Stuff, Five Euro Food by Charles,Red Shallot Kitchen by Priscilla,With a Glass, Nami | Just One Cookbook, Peach Farm Studio, Clumsyfingers by Xethia, PepperBento,Adventures in Bento Making, American Bent, Beanbento, Bento No, Bento Wo Tsukurimashou, Cooking Cute, Eula, Hapabento , Happy Bento, Jacki’s Bento Blog, Kitchen Cow, Leggo My Obento, Le Petit Journal Bento & CO (French), Lunch In A Box,
Susan at Arkonlite, Vegan Lunch Box; Tokyo Tom Baker, Daily Food Porn/Osaka, Only Nature Food Porn, Happy Little Bento, The Herbed Kitchen, J-Mama’s Kitchen, Cook, Eat, Play, Repeat, Bento Lunch Blog (German), Adventures In Bento, Anna The Red’s Bento Factory, Cooking Cute, Timeless Gourmet, Bento Bug, Ideal Meal, Bentosaurus, Mr. Foodie (London/UK), Ohayo Bento,
Must-see tasting websites:
-Sake: Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Good Beer & Country Boys, Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in kanzai by Nevitt Reagan!
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery
SHIZUOKA GOURMET 