This is volume one of a new thingy I just thought up: Japanese Culture Vol. 1 - Chindon'ya (チンドン屋). A new super cool and special series (maybe)....
Chindon'ya advertising the opening of a new pachinko parlor.
What is "Chindonya"? Chindon'ya (チンドン屋) is also called a "Japanese marching band." A very long time ago they were called Hiromeya (広目屋 or 披露目屋).
Ok, so what this is is that way back when, before there were TV's and radios, etc. These elaborately dressed musicians would march around the shopping areas of town and advertise the opening of new shops and establishments. They also could be seen around these shopping areas promoting sales and events. They were still commonplace in the sixties and seventies (Thanks Roger Marshall) and you saw them sometimes in the eighties, but they've become rarer as the days go by. Nowadays, Chindon'yas are pretty rare in Japan. The only time I ever see them is when they've been hired to promote the opening of a new pachinko parlor or sometimes at matsuri (festival times)... of course, whenever I do see them, I shoot a video.
The Chindon'ya consists of Japanese sound symbolism chin and don to describe the instruments, and the -ya suffix which roughly equates to the English "-er" suffix in this context.
Enjoy this video... This is a glimpse of the past! Chindon'ya (チンドン屋) (If the video doesn't play, click here for higher quality video or if the video doesn't play: https://youtu.be/jnMb9-kd9ZU)
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