Photo Exibitions
by
Kent W. Dahl
Tozai Tozai
"Ladies and Gentlemen from the East to the West"
A Japanese showman in a changing world
Eyefish Media
Kojiro Hayashi watching members of his chindonta group perform at the OS Gekijo theatre.
Osaka, December 2007 Photo: Kent W. Dahl©
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INTRODUCTION
By Kent W. Dahl
The photo exhibition was held in Hokuonotakumi Scandinavian Arts & Crafts / Gallery in Ginza in Tokyo in 2018.
It featured veteran "chindonya" leader Kojiro Hayashi and his Osaka-based chindonya troupe, Chindon Tsushinsha (Tozaiya).
About 100 photos were displayed. A little over half of the photos were black and white. The rest were smaller colour photos.
WHAT IS CHINDONYA
If you frequent traditional shopping districts in Japan, you will occasionally see some colourful musicians playing a catchy cocktail of New Orleans jazz, circus music, and wistful hits.
Welcome to chindonya, purveyors of a distinctive form of Japanese advertising dating back to the 19th century. Typically hired by small shops, their job is to entice passers-by to spend their money.
WHO IS KOJIRO HAYASHI
Kojiro Hayashi is a veteran chindonya plying the streets of Osaka. He founded his company, Chindon Tsushinsha (Tozaiya), in 1984 after an eventful introduction to the profession in “deep” Osaka.
But Japanese society is changing. Malls and online shops have bruised chindonya's core customers of small shops and local shopping streets. The number of chindonya has fallen drastically and they are now a rarity. Hayashi has thus made his troupe into a vaudeville act, which can also do stage shows and concerts, while profiting from chindonya's distinctive roots.
Drawing on the hard-earned chindonya training of his youth, Hayashi started to hone his troupe's performance skills in the dilapidated OS Gekijo theatre in Osaka in 2000. In this way he has been able to sustain the traditional chindonya culture.
Most of the photos in my exhibition were taken during Chindon Tsushinsha (Tozaiya)'s performances at the theatre.
THE MEANING OF
"TOZAI TOZAI"
Tozai Tozai was a greeting was often used by entertainers at small popular theatres, street performers and chindonya groups, it can be translated as, “Ladies and Gentlemen from East to West.” According to Kojiro Hayashi, “Tozaiya” was synonymous with chindonya in the old days.
Kojiro Hayashi performing at the photo exhibition. Photo: Kent W. Dahl©
Copyright
All photos, articles and other material displayed in Eyefish Media's homepage are covered by copyright protection. No use or reproduction is allowed without prior consultation with Kent W. Dahl
He was joined by singer, Mikako Aoki “Mikarin”, who was also featured at the exhibition. She works occationally with Tozaiya. Photo: Kent W. Dahl©
Kojiro Hayashi with the traditional chindonya drum. Photo: Kent W. Dahl©
Tozaiya Homepage:
http://www.tozaiya.co.jp/
