BODY CARNIVAL: The Pride of Kyoto, Dancing for 20 Years.
On this day, when B-boys and B-girls gathered, all eyes were on the Kyoto-based crew “BODY CARNIVAL.” Formed in 2005 around Hanazono Station in Kyoto, this crew features a diverse group of members and has achieved success in numerous competitions. Most recently, in March, they claimed the top spot in the crew battle (a 5-on-5 team competition) at the “FUJIFILM instax™ Undisputed Tokyo World Final 2026.” They will compete in this tournament as the defending champions.
Just as the venue was starting to buzz with excitement in the kids’ division, AYUMI was the first to make an appearance. Dancers passing by called out to her and asked for handshakes… And no wonder—with 22 years of dance experience under her belt and having competed in the 2024 world championship in Paris, she is one of the legends of the dance scene.
Once I was ready, I made my way to the center of the warm-up area. As I began to sway to the music playing in the distance, my movements gradually became more intense. People around me naturally started to look my way, and a light sheen of sweat appeared on my forehead.
Photo on the left: HARUTO is on the left, and TAKE is on the right.
Photo on the right: TOA is in the foreground, and OUKI is in the background.
The other members began arriving one after another, exchanging greetings with their rivals while warming up in preparation for the preliminaries. “I’m sure the preliminaries will go fine, but I’m still nervous,” said AYUMI, while HARUTO, with a focused expression, replied, “I’m not nervous at all yet.” Still, this is the stage where they’ll take on the world. Behind the scenes, they meticulously run through simulation after simulation.
Just after noon, the Crew Battle preliminaries finally began. By this time, the plaza in front of the station was already packed with spectators.
The five of them finally took the stage. The moment the music started, their expressions changed completely. They unleashed a series of moves, as if to outshine their opponents’ dance.
Even though breakdancers prepare their routines in advance, there’s still a strong element of improvisation involved. For example, no one knows what song will play. It’s a sport where you can never reach the pinnacle through planned choreography alone. It’s about instantly responding with your body to the music, your opponent, and the atmosphere of the moment. That very unpredictability is what makes breaking so captivating.
The “instax mini Evo Cinema™” (hereinafter referred to as “mini Evo Cinema”) is a hybrid instant camera that serves three purposes in one: short videos, still photos, and a smartphone printer.
Footage of the qualifying round shot with the “mini Evo Cinema.”
As expected of the defending champions, they advanced through the qualifying round without a hitch. Next up is the tournament featuring the top eight teams. It’s set to begin in two hours.
