REAL AKIBA BOYZ Ring in 2026 With a Playful Techno Break Drag Performance

Japanese anisong-dance crew REAL AKIBA BOYZ (RAB) have kicked off the new year with a light-hearted dance video titled “Tried dancing the Techno Break in drag[2026]”, released as their first “踊ってみた” (dance cover) of 2026.  Well, we did promise you  more dance on Kuriositas – and this supremely bonkers group of gentleman helps get that New Year resolution rolling.

In the video, members of RAB perform “テクノブレイク” (Techno Break) - a fast-paced dance style that blends breakdance fundamentals with techno rhythms - while dressed in cross-gender costumes, adding humour and theatrical flair to the performance. The contrast between high-level dance technique and playful presentation is a hallmark of the group’s style.  If you are new to the crew, this is not their usual costuming decision - most of the time, RAB perform in ordinary street clothes: hoodies, T-shirts, trainers, caps, jeans.

The video functions both as a New Year’s greeting to fans and as a showcase of RAB’s ongoing commitment to mixing otaku culture with professional-grade street dance. By revisiting a recognisable dance style and framing it with comedy, the group emphasises accessibility and fun without sacrificing technical skill.

Perhaps a little of the crew’s history is in order. Formed in Tokyo’s Akihabara district - the centre of otaku culture, a Japanese fandom subculture focused on anime, manga, video games, and related media - in the late 2000s, REAL AKIBA BOYZ built their reputation as the world’s first major dance crew to perform seriously to anime and game music. Once considered niche, their approach helped legitimise anisong dance within Japan’s wider street-dance scene. Today, RAB are known for live shows, competitions, and viral videos, standing at the intersection of anime fandom and professional dance culture.  Hmm! I never thought I would write a sentence containing the phrase the intersection of anime fandom and professional dance culture.  

Let’s go, Boyz!