TOKYO SWING DANCE SOCIETY

Jazz Auditoria at Waterras, Tokyo
April 26th, 2026

13:00 PM
Meiji University Big Bad

Various jazz bands will perform over the three days of this event, but the only band we can dance Lindy Hop to is this big band from Meiji University on Saturday. The other bands play modern jazz, so they won’t be suitable for dancing.

The stage will have one set, which will likely last around 50 minutes. Not all of the songs will be swing, but based on last year’s experience, there were a few that were right in our strike zone, allowing us to enjoy dancing.

The ground-level area gets crowded, and security staff will be enforcing rules to keep pathways clear, so the best option for us is to dance on the upper terrace, where they are less strict. When facing the band, this area is located in the upper right.

Fumiko Suzuki stands at the pinnacle of Japanese swing jazz vocalists. She has packed Tokyo’s prestigious Suntory Hall to capacity for her concerts and has performed alongside Nobuo Hara and His Sharps and Flats, a legendary Japanese swing big band. Like Ella Fitzgerald, Fumiko enjoys an exceptionally long career. This time, she will make a special appearance with Necola.

Dancing the Lindy Hop to her live voice? A rare chance you can’t miss!

Necola Premium Swingin’ Hop
Sunday March 16th, 2025
The doors will open at 5 PM.
The first set of the show will start at 5:30 PM.
The dance will end at 9:30 PM.
Venue: Necola in Tokyo

Band: Hirofumi Asaba and His Necola Swing All-Stars featuring Fumiko Suzuki
Hirofumi Asaba on jazz guitar
Nobuyuki Yano on double bass
Makoto Ueno on tener saxophone
Yuka Deguchi on jazz vocals
Fumiko Suzuki on jazz vocals

続きを読む Necola Premium Swingin’ Hop

今年、成人式を迎える方々に、TSDSからのお祝いとして、クラスレッスンの料金を大幅に割引くクーポンを差し上げます。この機会に是非、リンディホップを始めてみませんか？

• 今年、令和7年に20歳になる方が対象ですが、お友達と共に参加する場合はその方も割引の対象になります。１グループは本人を含めて最大４人までです。
• 通常3,500円が2,000円になります。
• 20歳になる方は当日、運転免許証が学生証などの年齢が確認できるIDをご持参くだい。
• 対象になるのは 令和７年1月に開催される全クラスです。日程はカレンダーで確認できます。
• 前日までの事前予約が必要です。こちらからどうぞ。なおメッセージの中に、この特別クーポンを利用する旨を記載してください。

To celebrate those who are coming of age this year, TSDS is offering a special coupon that provides a significant discount on class lessons. Why not take this opportunity to start Lindy Hop?

This offer is available to those turning 20 years old this year, but if you attend with a friend, they will also be eligible for the discount. A group can include up to four people, including the individual turning 20.
This offer applies to all classes held in January 2025. Please check the schedule on the calendar. The usual fee of 3,500 yen will be reduced to 2,000 yen.

Those turning 20 must bring an ID that verifies their age, such as a driver’s license or student ID, on the day of the class.

Advance reservations are required by the day before. Please book here.
Be sure to mention in your message that you would like to use this special coupon.

After Reading This Article: A Reflection on Lindy Hop’s History in Japan

What a delightful and insightful article by Shigeru Inatomi! It was both captivating and informative, offering a fresh perspective on aspects of swing dancing I hadn’t known or had forgotten. I was surprised to learn, for example, that only three months had passed from Hiro’s first swing dance experience to Frankie Manning’s visit to Japan. It’s truly remarkable how much progress one can make in such a short time—an inspiring example of passion and dedication!

Inatomi’s article is exceptionally well-written, providing valuable insights into Lindy Hop and the efforts he has made to nurture its growth in Tokyo. His contributions to the local swing dance community are clearly evident, and it’s wonderful to see how the scene has flourished under his guidance. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this piece.

Written by Cynthia R. Millman
Co-author with Frankie Manning of Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop
Temple University Press, 2007

Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop, Temple University Press, 2007

Cynthia Millman with Masahisa Segawa in Tokyo in 2013

これは稲富滋氏による、洞察力に満ちた素晴らしい記事です！

とても魅力的で、情報も豊富で、スウィングダンスに関して私が知らなかった、あるいは忘れていた側面について、新たな視点を提供してくれました。たとえば、Hiro がスウィングダンスを始めてからフランキー・マニングが日本を訪れるまで、わずか3ヶ月しか経っていなかったことを知り、驚きました。短期間でこれほどの進展を遂げるなんて、本当に素晴らしいことです。情熱と献身の素晴らしい例ですね！

稲富氏の記事は非常に良く書かれており、リンディホップに関する貴重な洞察を提供しています。また、東京でその成長を育んできた彼の努力もよく伝わってきます。彼の地域のスウィングダンスコミュニティへの貢献は明らかであり、彼の指導のもとでシーンがどれほど繁栄したかを見るのは素晴らしいことです。この記事を読むことができて本当に良かったです。

The Count Basie Orchestra at Blue Note Tokyo
December 8th, 2024
Written by Hiro Yamada, Tokyo Swing Dance Society

Today, I attended two events featuring the Count Basie Orchestra at Blue Note Tokyo: a daytime band clinic and an evening concert, along with swing dancers and musicians.

続きを読む

David Smith, London, England/Tokyo, Japan
December, 2024

Thank you so much for organising the amazing “Necola Premium Swingin’ Hop” in November. Carole and I had a fantastic afternoon. “Makiko Tamura and the Necola All-Stars featuring Fumi Mizubayashi” was brilliant – accomplished musicians, voices and great tunes to dance to plus a wonderful lively atmosphere. It was great to dance with friends, old and new. Everybody was very welcoming and we felt confident to join in, despite not being the finest dancers ourselves. We look forward to the next event at Studio Necola!

• Makiko Tamura and the Necola All-Stars 

That’s Plenty (only the first minute)
I Found a New Baby
Don’t Get Around Much Any More
Five Kitties And The Charleston (The Shimmy Shake) / 五匹のにゃんことチャールストン
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Exactly Like You

• Trio featuring Hajime Kobayashi, Hirofumi Asaba, and Oji Kimura 

In a Mellow Tone
Shiny Stockings

• Duet by Makiko Tamura and Fumi Mizubayash with the Necola All-Stars

Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

• Makiko Tamura and the Necola All-Stars featuring Fumi Mizubayashi 

The Late Late Show
Holiday
(Why Did I Tell You I Was Going To) Shanghai (Take-1) (Take-2)
One More Kiss, Dear (Music from Blade Runner)

Tokyo Swing Dance Society presented a poster at the 4th Research Meeting of the Japan Society for Dance Science held in Tokyo in October 2024.

Title:

Biomechanical Considerations in the Lead and Follow of Partner Dance (Lindy Hop)

続きを読む Biomechanical Considerations in the Lead and Follow of Partner Dance (Lindy Hop)

The Shinjuku Trad Jazz Festival, held on the streets of Shinjuku on November 9-10, was covered by JIJI.COM, a major Japanese news agency’s digital edition. Amazingly, there was even a photo of us dancing included in the report.

At TSDS, we offer a variety of merchandise, all of which are uniquely Japanese and of high quality. Towards the end of the page, we also feature items that we provide for free to visitors of TSDS. We plan to add more photos later.

#01 TSDS Fabric Badge: Perfect for T-shirts, Bags, Outfits, Caps, and More

3,500 yen each.

Examples of the Badge Attached to Shirts, Hats, and More

For more TSDS goods, click below.

続きを読む Merchandise of TSDS

Studio Necola / Tokyo Swing Dance Society has been featured on a certain Facebook page that posts articles about spots around Myogadani Station, one of the nearest stations to Studio Necola. This article provides a very concise summary of how Frankie Manning came to Japan in 1998 and how Lindy Hop in Japan got started.

Click below to see more article.

続きを読む Overview of the History of Lindy Hop in Japan