Japanese Ballroom Dancing

Japan Ballroom Dance Federation (JBDF) was established in 1992 as a public service corporation under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Education (now Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology).

"All Art may not be truth. Art could be a lie that makes us realize the truth, at least the truth that is given to us to understand."

Ballroom dancing has been enjoyed by many people in Japan both as a competition sport and as a hobby, but due to a shift in the social structure such as the aging society and the increased leisure time, it has become the demand of this time and place to promote ballroom dancing and they are doing so.

"I believe" by Frankie Lane

In the Western culture, ballroom dancing is a part of the daily life and Japan is also a major dance-loving country who holds several million amateurs. Ballroom dancing links a person to a person, a heart to a heart. JBDF is striving to popularize ballroom dancing in Japan for the sake of a rich and wholesome 21st century and moving to the music of their choice.

"Half As Much" by Rosemary Clooney 

The ballroom dance industry was helped immeasurably by 1995 film Shall We Dance?," which was seen by more than 2 million people, a large number for a Japanese-produced film. Schools reported a 20% increase in attendance after the film came out. And it has come to be predominantly the International style of dance.

"Here In My Heart" by Al Martino

Explaining the appeal of ballroom dancing,  "Since the 1980s, Japanese have learned that having lots of things—supported by a strong economy—does not make their art or life particularly rich. That is why more people are now being drawn to dance, the simplest form of art, which you create with your body and nothing else."

Many ballroom dancing fans compete in competitions in which they dress in evening wear and swirl around a parquet dance floor with numbers pined to their backs. And yet, despite the popularity of ballroom dancing, parties and wedding rarely featured dancing. People usually ate, drank and sang karaoke. Now they are beginning to dance at social parties and American Style is creeping in.