History of Tango in Japan
It is believed that tango arrived in Japan through Baron Tsunayoshi MEGATA, who was the grandson of Kaishu KATSU, a vital statesman and naval engineer of the late Tokugawa Shogunate and the early Meiji Era.
In 1920, to undergo a surgical operation, Megata went to Paris, where he lived until 1926. There he learned to dance tango at the Cabaret El Garrón, where Manuel Pizarro's orchestra performed. In Tokyo, Baron Megata taught the Japanese aristocracy to dance tango and published a method.
Since the late 1930s, several tango orchestras have formed in Japan, and well-known artists have emerged, some of whom have even gained fame in Argentina. The most famous case is that of the singer Ranko Fujisawa.
The popularity of tango may stem from the fact that, during World War II, the dissemination of musical genres from the United States, such as jazz, was prohibited. This created space for Argentine tango to develop. Some also highlight the stylistic similarity with Japanese popular music enka.
In 1954, Juan Canaro's orchestra was the first to perform in Japan, followed by other groups, including Osvaldo Pugliese's.
Currently, tango enjoys great popularity in Japan, with numerous tango schools and milongas throughout the country. In 2004, a year after the first World Championship was held in Buenos Aires, the Asian Championship began as the world's first official international preliminary. It is held every year in Tokyo.
- Awards from the Argentine Embassy for the development of tango in Japan
Japan is one of the countries with the greatest dissemination and historical roots of tango worldwide, which today presents the challenge of expanding its reach to new audiences. To attract new generations, the Embassy has promoted various awards:
1. "New Stars" Award - D'Arienzo Cup
The D'Arienzo Cup is an annual tango championship held in Tokyo since 2019. Due to the pandemic, the tournament was not held in 2020 or 2021, resuming in 2022 and continuing through 2025.
The competition pays tribute to Juan D'Arienzo, a central figure in the history of tango, and brings together dancers from across Japan and Asia. In 2025, for the first time, a preliminary tournament was held in Korea, with the winners qualifying directly for the final in Tokyo.
The event is sponsored by the Argentine Embassy, as well as supported by the Japan Tango Federation (FJTA) and various local tango academies. The D'Arienzo Cup consists of several categories: Couples (main category), with the subcategories Tango, Milonga, and Vals; Pugliese 50; Di Sarli 60; Golden Age 70; Variation (stage style); Jack & Jill; Group dance; and New Stars.
In the 2024 edition, the Embassy introduced the "New Stars" category to encourage participation by dancers with up to 3 years of tango experience. This category is done with a selection of ten classic tangos.
For more information: https://darienzocup.com/
2. Ambassador of the Argentine Republic Award - Grand Tango Prize of Japan of the Japanese Federation of Argentine Tango (FJTA)
The Grand Prize is an award the FJTA has given since 2022 to recognize individuals and organizations that promote tango culture in Japan across various areas. Traditionally, the prize was structured into five categories: Media, Music, Event, Stage Production, and Social Contribution.
Starting in 2025, as a result of discussions held with the FJTA, in line with the Embassy's goal of attracting new audiences, it was decided to modify the Media award, which was renamed the "Ambassador of the Argentine Republic Award," with the following concept defined:
Recognition for organizations or individuals who have carried out outstanding activities to promote tango culture, particularly among new generations. The award will be granted with the agreement of the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic in Japan.
For more information: https://www.fjta.jp/news/3819/
- Asian Championship
It is one of the most important competitions in the genre in the region, and each year it brings together an increasing number of participants from across the region.
The competition not only promotes the artistic and technical excellence of Argentine tango but also strengthens cultural ties between Asia and Argentina, consolidating tango as a universal language that transcends borders.
In addition to the competition, the Championship usually includes parallel activities such as performances by renowned dance couples.
The Championship includes different categories: floor, stage, Jack and Jill (leader and follower roles), senior, milonga, and waltz.
The winners of the first two categories earn their place to compete in the World Tango Championship in Buenos Aires.
The jury is made up of prominent Argentine and Japanese dancers.
For more information: https://2025-en.tangodanceasianchampionship.tokyo/#category