Tokyo Rockabilly Club by Varun Dutt

In Tokyo, designated roads are shut down on Sundays in a way to compensate for the lack of city squares. These roads then become a pedestrian paradise. Over the years, this has resulted in the creation of a youth street culture composed of musicians and dancers. The movement peaked in the 1980s and Harajuku would see numerous groups collectively known as the Takenokozoku or the ‘Bamboo Shoot Children’ dance to music from their portable stereos. As more and more groups poured in, and more visitors arrived to see this humongous gathering, the scene got chaotic and locals complained about the noise and disorder. Finally, in 1992, the government stopped the ‘pedestrian paradise’ and Harajuku was never the same again.

However, one group that has still kept the spirit alive is a 50’s rock n’ roll dance group which is now called the Tokyo Rockabilly Club. Though ipods have replaced the tapes, their music and style has not changed one bit.
With typical Japanese punctuality, they meet every Sunday in tight leather outfits and slicked back hair outside Yoyogi Park in Harajuku to twist and shimmy till nightfall.
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Varun is studying photography in Tokyo and worked on this in series in early 2009.
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