Summer Sound Festival

Yesterday was an odd one in Ichinomiya as the town hosted the Summer Sound Festival and all of these young people appeared out of nowhere. I'd been looking forward to the festival for quite a few weeks as it meant we would finally get to see our friend Bora perform live. Bora is the town's #1 rapper. He and is boys (The One North Crew) actually put on quite a show and in my book we're only upped by one other act, the live band hip-hop band Improve from Osaka from whose stage show and energy were high up there. The other acts weren't really worth mentioning except for the pop band Fakespear - and they are only worth it for their hilarious front man (almost as ridiculous as their name, and that's saying a lot).


BORA


IMPROVE


FAKESPEAR

Aside from the music, all the regular festival activities were on hand as well. Lots of fried food, games, beer, BINGO. We even tried some miso candy (as in miso soup) that was great. And of course whenever there are more than five children together, that means I'm bound to turn into the human jungle gym at some point. These girls were awesome, despite their rather unusual way of introducing themselves with slaps and punches.




We also bounced across the street at Tetsuya's bar a few times - and spent about five hours afterwards there - for fellow ALT Pippa's going-away party, which was interwoven (unofficially) with the fest. Colleen's gonna write more about the antics over there soon. Great night all around.

Mike