Chindonya today - Japanese street performers in commercial advertising

The chindonya are companies of street musicians engaged primarily in advert ising for shops, stores, cabarets, and pachinko (pinball game) parlors. The ir development is closely linked to the economic and cultural development o f Japan since the end of the nineteenth century. Although once a common sig ht in urban Japan, the number of chindonya has greatly decreased since the late 1960s. Recently, however, some signs of a new interest in this nearly obsolete profession have appeared. The job profile has changed somewhat, jo b offers from rural communities are increasing and engagements as main attr actions in large hotels and at festivals have begun to be booked. The music has even influenced some pop music groups, who are taking up the chindonya repertory. After a brief historical introduction and a description of the present-day situation for chindonya in Tokyo and Osaka, some of the possibl e factors responsible for the newly awakened interest in chindonya are disc ussed.