From FUKUSHIMA, the future is in our hands.
Even as the crisis takes away homes, we would like to have Fukushima retain ties with the outside world, in order for Fukushima to hold onto hope for life, and to think of a future for Fukushima. That is why we need this festival.We need a forum for people to come together and communicate. Through this festival, we will share with the world what Fukushima is going through now, and what it will be in the future. We are determined to change FUKUSHIMA! into a positive word.
Seinoshin Yamagishi / Representative, Director
About Project FUKUSHIMA!
The flag of Project FUKUSHIMA was raised by three joint representatives, Michiro Endo, Otomo Yoshihide, and Ryoichi Wago, right after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 from desperate desire to tell the world what was happening then, and to give FUKUSHIMA, a name suddenly notorious from the nuclear power point accident, a better and positive image filled with hope for the future. The first goal was to host a festival right inside the city in August.
We have carried on our mission year by year since then, not only in the heart of Fukushima city, but also in various places in Japan and even globally. It is our belief that such action leads to new culture which will raise peoples energy to live this world.
Festival FUKUSHIMA!
The first outdoor music festival, free of charge, was held in August 15th, 2011. A total of 13000 people from Fukushima Prefecture and beyond came to the event, while a total of 250,000 people tuned in to DOMMUNE FUKUSHIMA, the Ustream program aired live on the internet.
Since then, presenting a Festival, a unique social gathering held inside actual Fukushima, has become our well known main activity.
However, alongside of the consequences of the nuclear power point accident, our challenge is to continuously rethink its content and presentation every year.
In year one, an outdoor music festival was held on the outskirts of Fukushima City, with the theme of “the future with our hands,” attracting enough people to make our initial dream of 10 thousand people from within and outside of Fukushima come true. Since then, the event has been held every year on August 15th, leading to the creation of an original Bon-Odori song “Eejanaika Ondo”. We had been exploring the form of the festival and in subsequent years have continued the bon odori festival every summer. The dance does not validate the current conditions. Rather, it is an expression of scathing criticism. Five thousand people dance, sing, and perform music, creating a swelling movement around the tower set up at the venue in Fukushima City as they let their heartfelt emotions intermingle.