Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2012

Bikini babes are back to the shitamachi after last year’s Asakusa Samba Carnival was canceled in the wake of 3/11. Hundreds of thousands will turn out for the biggest samba competition in Japan. Participants’ performances are of such reputed quality that even real Brazilians give it the thumbs up. Highlighting the festival is the Grand Parade, which starts in mid-afternoon and lasts for several hours. Samba groups from all over Japan and even Brazil itself, dressed in little more than feathers and sequins, will gyrate their way to the gates of Sensoji temple.

Asakusa, Aug 25. (listing).