Yokogawa Zombie Night

I’m a big fan of zombies, whether they be on screen, in comic books or chasing you in a fun run. When I saw “zombie walks” online, my first thought was, “Cool”. My second, was that zombie events would never fly in Hiroshima, where real walking dead filled the streets in the hours and days after the A-bombing. Yokogawa’s neighborhood shopping district association, though aware of possible unpleasant connotations, has, however, decided to give some of its more eccentric elements free reign and get on the zombie train.

Initially a little skeptical, the group is putting together a quite imaginative series of events in and around Yokogawa Station aimed to appeal to wide range or people, from little kids to zombie otaku who should know better. Yokogawa Cinema is hosting a week-long zombie film festival between October 26 and October 31 complete with zombie appearances during George A Romero’s classic Dawn of the Dead and culminating with a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (with audience participation strongly encouraged) on Halloween night. A look at the organizers’ Facebook page reveals that those involved have really got into the spirit of things and are honing their zombie make up and costuming skills.

yokogawa zombie night poster

Check out the events planned for October 30 and 31 below and go here for the full schedule of the film festival.

Friday, October 30

Zombie Infection Zone

zombie facepainting

Get your face painted by by the Hiroshima Facepainting Group
In front of Yokogawa Station
¥500~
From 17:00

Zombie Street Performance

Stage outside Fresta Mall next to Yokogawa Station
10/30 18:00

Zombie Flash Mob

zombie flash mob
18:30 Hiroshima Joho Business Senmon Gakko parking lot
19:30 Fresta Mall next to Yokogawa Station
20:30 In front of Yokogawa Station

Dawn of the Dead

dawn of the dead
Film screening with occasional random zombie attacks – bot recommended for people with hear conditions or pregnant women.
Yokogawa Cinema
¥1000
18:50-21:15

Zombie Conference

Yokogawa Cinema
10/30 21:30

Saturday, October 31

Zombie Infection Zone Facepainting

zombie face painting 2
Get your face painted by by the Hiroshima Facepainting Group
¥500~
From 12:00~

Zombie Street Performance
zombie street performance

Stage outside Fresta Mall next to Yokogawa Station
10/31 13:00
Free

Zombie Flash Mob

zombie flash mob
19:30 Fresta Mall next to Yokogawa Station
20:30 In front of Yokogawa Station

Zombie Dance Show

18:30-18:40 Fresta Mall next to Yokogawa Station

Dawn of the Dead

Film screening with occasional random zombie attacks – bot recommended for people with hear conditions or pregnant women.
Yokogawa Cinema
¥1000
17:00-19:20

Zombie Contest

Prizes for most realistic, cutest zombies and more
Yokogawa Cinema
19:45

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

the rocky horror pictre show
Audience participation strongly encouraged
Yokogawa Cinema
¥1000
21:30-23:10

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.