Bamboo shoot tribe

A photo collection by photographer Noriko Shibuya, featuring the "Takenoko-zoku" photographed every Sunday at the Harajuku Pedestrian Paradise from 1979 to 1982.

The Takenoko-zoku were young people who, dressed in colorful costumes, danced on the streets of Harajuku to disco music or YMO's "Rydeen" blasting from cassette players. They started by adopting harem suit-style outfits with cinched hems, sold at "Boutique Takenoko" on Takeshita Street, which gave them their name. Gradually, they began creating their own costumes and choreography, developing unique expressions within each group.

At its peak around 1981, approximately 100 groups and 4,000 Takenoko-zoku were active. It was reported that on a single day, about 100,000 people gathered, including around 3,000 rock 'n' rollers dancing nearby and spectators visiting from all over Japan. International media also came to cover the phenomenon, and a large-scale street culture of dancers and spectators formed throughout the Harajuku area.

Subsequently, the number of groups and participants gradually decreased, but street performances in Harajuku reportedly continued until around 1989.

This book features color photographs capturing costumes, gestures, group formations, and the relationship between dancers and observers, presented on black-based pages. It conveys the youth culture of the early 1980s not merely as a temporary trend or custom, but as a movement of self-expression that emerged in urban space.

The book includes a preface by Daido Moriyama and an essay by Noriko Shibuya titled "Sunday's Heroes" at the end. It is published by Paris-based Area Books in a limited edition of 350 copies.

[Title] 竹の子族 / Takenokozoku
[Publisher] Area Books
[Publication Date] October 31, 2024
[Pages] 116 pages
[Size] Approx. 243 x 177 x 17 mm / 520g
[Format] Hardcover
[Language] English
[Title Reading] TAKENOKOZOKU
[Author/Editor, etc.] Noriko Shibuya / Photographs, Daido Moriyama, Noriko Shibuya / Text, Area Books / Editing, Art Direction, Composition, Laura Csocsán / Text Design
[Printing and Binding] SYL Graphic, Spain
[ISBN] 9782493509123
[Condition] Used [9] Excellent
[Accessories] -
[Featured In] -
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Noriko Shibuya (1953–)

Born in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture. Photographer.

In 1974, graduated from Tokyo College of Photography (now Tokyo Polytechnic University). In the same year, studied at Shomei Tomatsu's class at Workshop Photography School, and in 1975, at Daido Moriyama's class. Became a freelance photographer in 1976 and participated in the self-operated gallery "Image Shop CAMP" until 1982.

For many years, she has photographed people and the relationships that form around them, including youth, urban environments, filmmakers, and cultural figures. Her major works include "Youth," "Takenoko-zoku," "Takenoko-zoku Kaoru-chan," "Yuki," "Shinjuku Diary," and "Passionate Filmmakers." Her published works include "People of Film."

< Related Figures >
Daido Moriyama
Shomei Tomatsu
Image Shop CAMP