A Liberdade royal couple performs Sunday during the Happy Town Shibasaki Samba Festival in Tachikawa, Japan. (Roger Harnack / S&S)
A Liberdade royal couple performs Sunday during the Happy Town Shibasaki Samba Festival in Tachikawa, Japan. (Roger Harnack / S&S)
A musician performs during the Happy Town Shibasaki Samba Carnival on Sunday in Tachikawa, Japan. (Roger Harnack / S&S)
TACHIKAWA, Japan — Thousands of spectators jammed Suwadori Shotengai street Sunday to watch the Happy Town Shibasaki Samba Carnival traverse this city east of Yokota Air Base.
More than 150 samba dancers, musicians and singers in two troupes — Liberdade and Exalcado Samba Brassbando — pranced their way up the street on the south side of Tachikawa train station, which is about seven stops from Yokota on the Ome Line.
It was standing room only when the entertainment got under way shortly after 1 p.m. Liberdade jesters and others dressed in Alice in Wonderland attire were out front.
Others in the troupe wore traditional samba attire with bright feathers and flashy jewelry.
The “Queen of Hearts” and her band rounded out the troupe’s performance.
Exalcado Samba Brassbando followed with female dancers carrying colorful umbrellas and men dressed in silver tuxedos.
