Inoko Daifuku Festa Day 1

Tonight, I went to take a look at how the Inoko Daifuku Festa space in Fukuromachi Park is looking. The scene really was quite something, especially once the sun went down and the 88 transplanted bamboo trees were illuminated. Tonight was the pre-event ahead of the main festival tomorrow.

I have to say, despite he fantastic setting I was rather disappointed with the “events” on offer. Things started off on stage with a short display of human beatboxing and Yo Yo (!) skills, but soon moved in a distinctly anime direction – with a magic and cartoon song show and a performance by Hiroshima idol outfit ひろしまMAPLE★S.

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Even a healthy dose of local sake served in a bamboo cup couldn’t get me in the mood to grab a neon wand and join the other middle aged men crowded around the front of the stage. I guess it made sense as there was a Cosquerade cosplay meet going on at the same time, but all the high pitched singing, combined with lots of MCing made it seem more like your average neighborhood festival than something special. That said, they did pull in a fair few people which is not to be sniffed at.

One of the organizers assured me that the main event tomorrow night will be more artistic. I just looking forward to seeing that rock bounce!

 

Paul Walsh

Paul arrived in Hiroshima "for a few months" back in 1996. He is the co-founder of GetHiroshima.com and loves running in the mountains.