“Stay home & Parapara”

: the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the para para scene in Japan (2020-2023)

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze the evolution and changes of the Japan-based para para dance scene (JP: パラパラシーン), focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic period from 2020 to 2023. Our main goal is to determine the impact the pandemic had on the scene. I start this dissertation by conducting a literature review to examine how para para has been discussed within academic circles. Following this, I provide a historical overview of para para and trace its origins from its precursors and its emergence in the mid-1980s, through its peak in the late 1990s, and its presence in the contemporary Japanese pop culture. I then analyze the evolution of the scene since the beginning of the pandemic. The methodology employes both quantitative and qualitative approaches, and is divided into three parts: observational techniques during my fieldwork in Japan from August 2023 to January 2024; interviews with event hosts, dancers, DJs, labels, and content creators from the scene; and a survey targeting people who had some prior knowledge of para para, which garnered 104 responses. I conclude that the pandemic turned several events into hybrid events rather than being exclusively on-site whilst increasing the number of events and slightly increasing the number of regular customers. I also highlight how para para has adapted to the online world, especially on social media platforms such as TikTok. However, the online para para scene might not necessarily translate into increased participation in events.

Date of Award	14 Mar 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Shenglan Zhou (Supervisor)