This dance originated from Hawaii. There are many hula dancers in Japan - every self respected town has hula dance studio. Dances are often performed in town festivals etc.
Video: hula, part 1
Video: hula, part 2
Saw this wonderful performance while walking past Kawasaki station. It was very noisy in front of busy station with people passing and some were campaigning for elections nearby with loudspeakers.
Girl’s name is Haru and she is song writer and singer. I imagined that Haru could be Japanese version of young American singer and songwriter - Taylor Swift. One very beautiful song for your attention. This stong stuck in my head for several days.
Video: beautiful song from performance
It's in front of busy station, so sorry about noise and cuts in movie.
This is Tateishi festa in Aoto district of Tokyo. This time they had some nice performances and also samba parade. As I understand many foreigners live in that area.
For your attention two songs from two performances I found interesting. First one is two string instrument from China called erhu or Chinese violin. It was good idea to have accompaning music on speakers.
Video: Erhu or Chinese violin
It's unusual to see country band in Asia, I think. This group warmed our hearths with cheerful bluegrass songs. Group has banjo, guitar, violin, mandolin and second banjo.
Video: country music band Upstone
Festival page is here in Japanese.
Band is called Theta and you can check their website here.
Video: one song from performance
Wonderful street performance by steel band consisting of 8 musicians called Pan Note Magic. I was moving around town called Machida, when I heard this really fantastic sound. People were also overjoyed and I was completely intoxicated by steel pan music.
Video: some moments from performance
I read that this musical instrument originated from Trinidad Island. It was made from steel barrel (one where you store oil) and perfected by several inventors during last 50 or so years, for example more notes and sharps have been added to initial three. Top of steel barrel is hit with hammer until it caves in. Then by using template, note areas are drawn on steel and each note area are grooved with small chisel. This allows one note area to vibrate seperately from other, otherwise neaby notes will vibrate togather. You can see in video, when I zoom into steel pan that there can be seen different areas inside steel pan. Finally, steel pan is tuned with hammer again - stretching note areas as needed. Instrument is chromed afterwards and gets this shining look.
Here another example of crazy steel pan (steel drums) playing in Japan at Narita Drum Festival in Alison’s-san blog (third video, they are playing variation of song Dollar Wine).
There are many videos on the internet about Yoyogi park in Tokyo, but I could not resist to upload my version.
I think this is one of most interesting things to see in Tokyo. Park only gets busy during weekends. As you can see in video many foreign tourists also enjoy performances.
Video: musical activities
Here are links to some bands I could find:
Bably swing singing girl and jazzy band
Loovee they sing at the beginning and end
Some of music performers on the streets are really talented. Girl singing in the video has really good voice. You can also check artist's blog.
Video: two songs from performance
It’s just so cool to stand there and listen for a couple of minutes.
Video: example from their performance. Sorry about not clear sound of my camera
I don't know bands name, but I could not pass by. They were playing in Keio line station, so just named them Keio line musicians. Two violins, guitar, banjo and contrabass!!! Have not seen contrabass playing on the street before.
