Roppongi Hills Bon Dance 2019

The sleek steel, glass and stone of the Roppongi Hills Arena will be taken over by kimono clad bon dancers for three evenings. Festivities start at the slightly later 5pm on Friday – presumably so as not to disturb all those office workers looking for an excuse to get out of work. If past years are any indication, there will likely be huge crowds on the Friday – and marginally smaller ones on the other two days.

This bon festival boasts a unique dance – the Ropponjin Ondo – roughly translated as the Roppongi Workman’s Dance. All comers are invited to master the dance – no doubt featuring lots of typical Roppongi Hills work actions such as operating a keyboard and mouse, taking the elevator and using the shredder.

(Greg Lane)