Takenoko-zoku Cool

This is a new ad for cigarettes using an image of the late 70s/early 80s Yoyogi-koen rock'n'roll dancers - the so-called Takenoko-zoku. In its prime, this weekend subcultural activity was considered to be the height of youth immorality and rebellion. These Harajuku 50s dancers were no media-created market segment - they were real high-school dropouts who fought the system by doing crazy things like... smoking cigarettes. Parents and the local law enforcement community held many a meeting to find solutions to this weekend "hankou" (rebellion, insubordination) - dear God, they are smoking... and dancing in funny ways to the Oldies!

If you don't believe me, there's a great NHK documentary about the Takenokozoku that was made in 1980 called Wakai Hiroba 'Harajuku 24jikan'. In one scene, a young greaser lights a firecracker, and the police immediately take it upon themselves to beat the living shit out of the young lad and haul him off in a police cruiser. The other interesting thing is that Tokyo used to fully shut down around 7 pm, so all these rebellious kids would just go home at around 6 in the evening.

Now in 2004, the Takenokozoku sells you the product that society desperately tried to stop them from using.

Posted by marxy at November 25, 2004 7:36 PM