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Traditional music and dance early Thursday evening
The Fuji Rock Festival falls late in the summer months, and for some visitors who decide to make the trip out to the Naeba Ski Resort they have to choose between traditional summer festivals and the music festival. In Tokyo alone this weekend are a handful of Japanese summer festivals, full of fireworks, dances and traditional music. Thankfully, Fuji Rock brought a taste of the season to the people tonight.
At around 6:45, a booming voice originating from a yellow platform near the Red Marquee stage started giving dance instructions. He was soon joined by some taiko drumming and a recording of an old Japanese song. Punters formed a circle around the stage and began doing a dance around it, clapping at specific instances and also jumping into the air occasionally. Hundreds of people joined in a scene that looked ripped straight from one of the many summer festivals happening around the country this weekend, while most everyone else took it in from the comfort of their chairs or snapped photos of the dance. Several participants were even wearing traditional Japanese summer clothes – though a dress code wasn’t enforced, as evidenced by the sight of a gangly dude sporting a pink mohawk taking part in the festivities.
