Tokyo Street Performance

Even though theres a sign clearly stating that the "act of vending/performance is strictly prohibited," you'll still often see folks doing these "acts" in Shinjuku on Sundays when the streets are closed off to vehicles.
I've seen people selling baby rabbits, parading their pet monkey, and the occasional band.
The temporary ban on vehicles is known as Hokousha Tengoku as explained previously in this article (includes a nice pair of eyes).

I plan to do the next dance in Shinjuku and was thinking of ideas until reader Sean sent in the following video - I believe that its my destiny to do the dance that this woman is doing. Shes also doing it right in the same location as these photos.
The main theme of this article is actually this video and I thought I'd throw in the stormtrooper pics taken in Shinjuku for good measure ^^; Have a look - it could be the first time you've seen somebody "dance" like this ^^;

I read in a few comments that quite a few of you are coming to Tokyo in December. Remember to drop me a line when you are over and maybe we'll go shooting the next video together ^^;
If you are interested in reading about life in Japan, seeing photos taken daily around Tokyo, like Japanese subculture (anime, manga, figures, Dollfies) then you may want to start delving into the Japan or Figure categories for a start or have a gander at all photo articles.
If you don't have much time now, maybe subscribe to the RSS Feed, Twitter Feed or join the other readers in the FaceBook Page.
Alternatively, you may want to read more about the site.
If you are a regular reader then this message will probably annoy you each time - hide it forever.
-Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)

























Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
http://www.moeside.net/weblog
That's some wacky dance!
I want to visit Tokyo again in December again but can't get away from internship ORZ
Student
Wow... talk about high on pills...
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Ah well, you know, laws, signs filled with typos... Sometimes you have the right to fear them, sometimes you can ignore them and face the possible consequences in the worst cases...
As long as you don't get caught, go crazy! ;)
As for that woman... I guess it's a woman? (You messed up our minds big time with all those cross-dressing pics...!) Don't laugh, I instinctively feel she is practicing her katas, with a style not unlike Voldo from Soul Calibur.
Good to see you with the ol' good Stormtrooper suit otherwise.
Publisher
unusual....that is a unique style of "dancing"...as long as she is having fun good for her....Guess it already gave her a worldwide exposure
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
http://puppy52art.com/
oh boy :P that woman's quite scary actually o_o! Danny if you "dance" like she does you may end up with a very scratched up armor! *L*
Student
http://iish.wordpress.com/
Stasion?
Mandalorian in training + Otaku...
Uh, fair enough ^^.
Dirty Gentleman
http://cantstanzya.wordpress.com/
Errr... you're gonna bust up your white armor pullin those moves. Unless you get some boba fett armor then you can scratch it all you want. Better yet, get one of the people visiting you in Dec to wear boba fett armor and dance around crazy. That'll be a one of a kind Japan memory.
Student
heh, she can dance along with this dude http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htPYlSeWEGU and perhaps using these guys as background music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAMyQdBWhUw then we have a heavy metal group.
Son Iam disappoint
Either a seizure or demonic possesion. Do I really have to call for an exorcist?
Actually I kinda like spontanious acts, I bet she would have bigger audience if she had panties on.
Aircrew Resource Analyst
w00t
Tokyo Jihen's Shuraba is t3h r0x0r!
Nendoroid Hunter
She knows what she's doing but watching her gave me a headache.
Student
edit: forgot to add this guy to the group~ http://youtube.com/watch?v=THBiP7E4MXc
http://www.marvinryan.com
don't mind the armour, you're gonna bust up some joints, ligaments as well as some brain cells dancing like that. ^^; wonder nobody called the cops, sometimes it looks as if she's possesed or something. *evil lol*
anime/cosplay events organizer
http://www.cosplay.ph
that experimental dance is unique and it borders to making to look like a seizure...
it's either a dance or a seizure attack lolz
writing mini thesises
http://kazenomise.net/
yo danny...
I'm not sure about doing that dance in that storm trooper outfit of yours...just don't get hurt ^^;
VF-25 Pilot. Universariate Scholar.
Danny, in the last post you said that drugs were expensive in japan. so, how did this woman get so high??
anyways, i think you should not try that, you will most likely break yourself and this blog will be over.
but well, its up to you.
Student
Aside from people playing guitar or something in the subway, there aren't many street performances here.
Student
Well next time I'm back in Tokyo... (like Christmas time when I get back from Uni) I'll definitely join you...
but like... seriously..?
watch some of Poppin Hyun Joon, and try to pull that off... would definitely look cool popping in a stormtrooper outfit...
That... or of course, Shuffle :P
Exchange Student
Well, maybe she's getting rid of aggressions this way(?), either that or she's simply on drugs but she definitely has some guts to do this.
And Reikais idea of shuffling in armor is great xD
Japanese Student
http://japanqna.wordpress.com
Weird woman... was she trying to clean the ground?
Can't wait for the next Storm Trooper dance video! I'd love to see it live.
Simulation
http://www.animetreehouse.com
We have a place for people like that here in the U.S., it is called Rehab!
Designer/Student
Haha. Check this out~ http://myspacetv.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=19062191
Hmm, I hope my exchange program sends me off to Tokyo, that would give me 10 months time to meet you danny ^^
銀河帝国五〇一軍团 TK/TD 8316 M.E.P.D. Police Sergeant
http://gordonator.com/
i'll love to see danny do the upside down legs splitting part. ('~')
Student
Yeah! I'd probably panic alittle if I saw a stormtrooper on the street, a.k.a. DANNY CHOO! *melts*
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
http://xspblog.com
Here where I live, what that lady is doing there isn´t called "dancing"... it´s called demonic possession.
o_O
I´d probably have a heart attack from laughing too much if Danny did that stormtrooper mode though.
Well, in my city we don´t have street performers. I think the city isn´t big enough for that... we do have poor street kids and hippies doing acrobatic stuff on traffic signals though.
But in bigger cities here in Brazil I´ve seen lots of them.
Programmer
Hey Danny, long time reader, first time blog comment poster. I read above that you might be able to meet some of your fans. Though I won't be coming in December, I will be coming in early January. Any chance I can shake hands with one of the internet's biggest otakus in Akihabara?
IT
http://davortech.wordpress.com
Great photos Danny. I love the sign. Chief of the police stasion :P
Bartender
I wouldn't mind seeing the Tokyo Dance Trooper some time :) Let us know when you are next doing it and I'll try to be free to see it!
College student and soldier
http://cadet-mcnally.livejournal.com/
I'm still not convinced that she wasn't having some kind of seizure.
Web Designer
http://mcklain.wordpress.com/
I think that she is possessed...
Programmer
http://www.otakulinks.com
She finally managed to get some canabis :) sooooo high :D
Otaku
http://fuzakenna.com
you know, the first 10-15 secs of that video just looked like ne at a metal concert XD Really, though, that chick was t-rippin.
Visual Communications and Web 2.0
http://www.imagineboris.com
most that i see here are by metro stations. Its legal to do a performance by an entrance to metro station. I think they might still need to get permission because at one time there is only one performer there. Mostly they play music and there is one guy that plays this traditional Chinese instrument so beautifully. Mostly its by metro station in Washington DC and Arlington. Some sing, but mostly its music and very good one too. I think they should be at all metro stations. Its nice to leave metro and be greeted by some music.
Drug testing
this wins even more than the full video of that dancing woman, http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=jvjtsy3FTg4
Student
oh my god that dance is pure twitching and some sort of down syndrome.....
Student
Only shopping district where there is a lot of people traffic. On the most they are musical type.
Software Support
Why they don't like people to performance in Tokyo Streets? They don't want people to gather around and block the street?
Hey Danny, did you ever get stopped by the police or get "talked to" when you wear the Stomtropper suit and walk around public places?
student
http://animesugoi.animeblogger.net/
Lol, crazy girl ^^.
Student & Accountant
http://nivexus.deviantart.com
omg is she ok? That looks like a terrible seizure. Why aren't ppl helping her?
Hikikomori in the making
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
LOL, it's a good thing I don't know her and she doesn't know me...
Web Design & Development
http://www.nerdculture.org
It looks more like she's wigged out on crack. lol
I saw some hooker doing that in Vancouver once, but then she smashed her face into a tree and was knocked unconscious.
Photography Student
http://hugodeathy.deviantart.com/
Looks like she got injected with the drug from Higurashi...scary.
But good thing that at least Tokyo Jihen was playing as background music, she have good taste in music.
student
i prefer your stormtrooper dance than that girl dance.
the girl kinda look drugged, or whatever to me, either to crazy or she got something wrong with her.
though this girl dance is crazier(not cool, crazy) than your dance. i prefer something normal, got to keep your sanity
CEO MIrai Inc
http://www.dannychoo.com/profile/eng/
Ryori no tetsujin,
They usually ask "are you off to some event"
I usually say "yes" ^^;
Orz,
Send me mail - mail is in my profile page ^^
ひまななし,
は〜い!
*shrug*,
Let me know when you are in town.
Student, ACG Fans
http://modvisc.blogspot.com
erm, maybe i ask something, is she doing some praying @.@" ..
student
http://jk-pictureaweek.blogspot.com/
Oh ... don't do that( like the video) ... you would look crazy
4th Year Business Economics Student
You call that dancing? To me that's more hanging out the lunatic on the street with no shoes. To prevent you from doing something you'll regret (you will, mark my holy words =P) I say...Don't do this "dance" for the sake of you, your wife, your future childrens, everyone! XD
I think I saw her audition on So You Think You Can Dance.
D_Blade: I instinctively feel she is practicing her katas, with a style not unlike Voldo from Soul Calibur
LOL, Well thank the great green Arkleseizure there was no matching Voldo cosplay included in this "performance".
Non-profit org. volunteering work addict
Well amaya, if that ever was the case ("!" MGS style), be sure she would have "Gone to jail without getting $200". ^^;
artist
I was thinking what if strong machine2 wore a storm trooper outfit and started doing her dance like Danny.
Oh wow, she look like she's high. Kinda reminds me when I was drunk this one time, O_o .
Graphic Artist
cool
http://cscentrl.com
Question: is it OK to give money for street performers in Japan? They do it all the time in America. Will we be violating any laws if we feel a street performer has done well and give him/her money as gratitutde for the performance. Speaking of which Danny, have you ever been given money while performing in your trooper outfit?
Full Time Student, Part Time Anime Lover, Half Time Lurker
http://hiro307.blogspot.com
surely crowded
university student
id be pretty suprised if danny could pull off a head stand like that woman
Engineering ways to take over the world.
she might be possessed.