JAPAN: Japanese and French performers take to the streets of Tokyo to the delight of thousands on "Coming of Age" day

Record ID: 461811

  • Title: JAPAN: Japanese and French performers take to the streets of Tokyo to the delight of thousands on "Coming of Age" day
  • Date: 11th January 2010
  • Summary: CHAPLIN HOLDING HOOP AS PARTNER RUNS AND JUMPS THROUGH IT
  • Embargoed: 26th January 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA7GD8KY9NZZFBKII8WCW7ZA410
  • Story Text: With everything from air acrobatics to Charlie Chaplin impersonators, the 8th annual "Heaven Artists in Shibuya" street festival attracted nearly 150,000 people in Tokyo on Monday (January 11).
    Seventeen groups from Tokyo's "Heaven Artist" performing group as well as two French performance groups took part in the festivities, which coincided with Japan's "Coming of Age" day, where people turning 20 become an adult.
    One of the French groups took over the square in front of one of Tokyo's most fashionable streets and performed flips and spins, while hanging from a ring suspended more than two meters above ground.
    Other performances didn't limit themselves to one spot, the "Dark Krakou", a man inside a golden suit on stilts and extended arms, took to the crowd and inspired both awe and fear, causing many to turn and run.
    With the event taking place after many people's coming of age ceremonies, there were spectators in the crowd still clad in their Kimonos, when they came to watch the festivities.
    "It's the first time I've seen something like this, so I was surprised," said 20 year-old, Yoshie Itasakai.
    Coming of Age day in Japan marks an important time for youths becoming an adult.
    "I hope to do my best in order to reach for my dreams. As for how I feel about becoming an adult, it's sort of.....It's great!" said 20-year-old Ryouta Kaneko excitedly about finally becoming an adult.
    While the "Heaven Artists in Shibuya" street festival doesn't always fall on Coming of Age day, organizers hoped that organising the festival to coincide with the public holiday, will allow people to enjoy themselves even more.
    "As Coming of Age day is quite a bright holiday in Japan, we hope to let everyone to enjoy themselves and have a good time," explained Kazuko Kayama, in charge of the "Heaven Artist" performances.
    Some performers dressed in traditional costumes for their art, with one wearing a samurai kimono while doing magic tricks with large metal rings.
    Taking traditional to the extreme, another performer painted her face white and teeth black, harking back to the Edo period when it was sometimes fashionable for women to paint their teeth.
    While most people ran away from her, the performer managed to grab and hug one man after scaring away his girlfriend.
    Finally, even Charlie Chaplin was on call, with an impersonator performing Chaplin's signature dance routines and having his partner catapult himself through a hoop.
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