Kyoto's Miyako Odori Returns with Final Rehearsal

Apr 01, 2025 | News On Japan

KYOTO - Kyoto’s signature spring event, the "Miyako Odori," held its final rehearsal on March 31st ahead of its official opening. Performed by around 50 geiko and maiko at the Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater, the annual dance performance undergoes its final run-through, known as the "ozarae," before opening to the public on April 1st.

This year’s theme, "Back to the Roots," highlights some of Kyoto's most iconic landmarks, including Kiyomizu Temple and Heian Shrine, in an effort to help audiences rediscover the city’s timeless charm.

Yuzuha, a 21-year-old maiko taking part in her final performance before transitioning to a geiko, said, "I want to enjoy this final stage as a maiko while staying focused so I don’t forget my moves from nervousness."

The Miyako Odori will run from April 1st through April 30th.

Source: YOMIURI

Takaichi Gets 5 Hours Sleep for 'First Time in a While'

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has drawn criticism over a social media post describing five hours of sleep as a rare luxury, as the extended Diet session prepares to begin Upper House debate on a controversial bill to establish secondary capitals outside Tokyo.

Japan Introduces Stricter Penalties for Drunk Driving

Japan began applying a new numerical alcohol threshold for dangerous driving offenses on July 21, introducing a clearer standard for cases involving impaired driving that could lead to fatal accidents.

Mount Fuji Filmed From a Helicopter

Breathtaking 4K footage filmed from a helicopter offers a sweeping aerial view of Mount Fuji and its majestic surrounding landscape.

Japan Scrambles for Oil

A covert network of shuttle tankers is carrying crude through the increasingly dangerous Strait of Hormuz as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran disrupts shipping and raises concerns over how Japan will secure the oil it needs.

Russia Calls Japan-Ukraine Drone Cooperation a Clear Hostile Act

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has criticized moves by Japanese and Ukrainian companies to cooperate on drone technology, warning that such ties would be regarded by Moscow as a "clear hostile act."

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Entertainment NEWS

Tokyo’s Broadway: The Forgotten Cinema District

A black-and-white photograph taken in 1955 has revealed how Tokyo's Kinshicho district once resembled a sprawling movie set, with theaters, restaurants and drinking establishments packed into an entertainment quarter that drew crowds from across the city's eastern neighborhoods.

Fandom Takes Japan By Storm

Japan’s booming "oshi-katsu" culture, in which fans devote themselves to supporting favorite celebrities, athletes, characters and other interests, has grown into an estimated 3.8 trillion yen market, but some enthusiasts are taking multiple jobs, restricting meals and falling deeply into debt to sustain their spending.