Hip-hop street dance

ヒップ・ホップ　ダンス

You can't go far down any Japanese city street, especially after nightfall, without seeing a group or two of guys or girls - usually about half a dozen - practicing their hip-hop dancing in front of a shop window.

Getting down to the ghettoblaster, they apply themselves to intricate, closely synchronized, athletic routines that last for usually less than a minute. They then 'retire' for about two or three minutes, getting up steam again for the next heads-down, arms-out, heel-spinning climax.

I was walking through the red-light area of Kabukicho in Tokyo's Shinjuku ward tonight. The Shinjuku Ward Office is smack in the middle of Kabukicho, and in front of one of its windows was this group of guys doing their thing.

I caught them in their dancing innocence for about twenty seconds, but once they caught sight of my camera they went all coy, studiedly sauntering and fanning themselves with their caps.

Check out the clip of Japanese boys hip-hop dancing (and then compensating for it!) here.



See images of Japan.

Also, read here about the history of early Japanese emigration.

Japan
Tokyo
hip-hop
dance