The Kichijōji Music Festival (吉祥寺音楽祭, Kichijōji Ongaku Sai) is a music festival held annually around Golden Week in Kichijōji, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. It is commonly known by the abbreviated name kichion (吉音）。
History and Outline
The festival was begun in 1986, as part of a revitalization scheme for Kichijōji, "Culture and Art City Kichijōji" (文化芸術都市・吉祥寺, Bunka Geijutsu Toshi Kichijōji). At first, the direction of the festival changed every year. In order to unify the planning of the event, after several surveys, starting in the festival's fifth year, 1990, jazz was made the festival's focus.
In the festival's 17th year, 2002, the festival underwent a renewal, aimed at further increasing the local activities of Kichijōji. Since then, with the four elements of "Old Sound Contest" (古音コンテスト, Ko'on kontesuto), "Superstage," "Park concert" and "Jazz concert" as its core, the festival has been held during Golden Week every year.
The main events and outdoor events are free, but some parts, such as the Old Sound Contest and Jazz Contest are not free.
Event details and locations
Old Sound Contest (main event) – Kichijōji Theatre, early May (not free). This event was previously billed as the Jazz Concert, but was reborn in 2002 as an contest inclusive of a wide range of genres. The participants in the contest are from not only the surrounding area, but all over the country, and range from street musicians and amateurs to professionals. They perform music in genres such as folk, pop, rock, jazz, and fusion. More than 200 performers and groups enter the contest each year. Besides those that enter by open application, some groups are also recommended by Kichijōji's Live Houses.
Park concert – Inokashira Park, an outdoor concert, April 29 annually. The performances are mainly by the school bands and choirs of local elementary, junior high and high schools.
Jazz Concert - Musashino Public Hall (not free). This is the event of the festival with the longest history, and is popular with a wide range of jazz fans, young and old. The performers are also diverse, both amateur and professional, and include, besides the performers of Kichijōji's jazz clubs, jazz bands from nearby Seikei University and Asia University.
Superstage – square in front of Kichijōji station's North Entrance, early May (two days long). An outdoor concert event. Musicians ranging from young to professional from the area around Kichijōji and along the Chuo line, including performers who also participate in the Old Sound Contest, perform a ten-hour program over two days. One of the flagship events of the festival.
Folk singer Wataru Takada, who dearly loved Kichijōji played on this venue before his death in 2005. Other notable performers who have performed on the Superstage include Ren Osugi, Shiro Sano, Chiyuki Asami and Naoto Kine.
Hokoten Dance – Heiwa Dori Ave., late April. “Hokoten” (ホコ天) refers to a section of road that has been closed to automobile traffic, usually temporarily, as in this case. This dance performance show includes powerful performances by a wide range of performers, from youth dance groups to groups made up of elderly men and women.
There also special performances in some of Kichijōji's live houses, some of which are not free.
For the duration of the festival, many local stores and businesses also host their own privately funded satellite events. Each has its own theme, and there are many different genres.
