A new form of regional festival packed with Okinawan street culture.

The end of the year was gradually approaching in early December. A major event called "Nami no Ue Festival" was held in Okinawa, the southernmost island of Japan. This was the first time for this festival to be held, but what sets it apart from others is its "diversity.

The music genres include hip-hop, reggae, pop, rock, folk music, and many more, and the event will feature not only musicians from Okinawa but also artists from all over the country, from legends to new faces. Other events include a free food area, flea market and apparel booths, a BMX contest "Champur Game," a dance battle "Last Summer Jam," MC battles, and much more. It was hard to believe that this was the first time the event was held, as it was packed with street culture-centered content.

That is as it should be. The festival itself was organized by the AKAZUCHI crew led by RITTO, a long-time leader of the Okinawan hip-hop scene, who were deeply involved in not only their own performance but also in booking other artists, devising content, and managing the day itself. Thanks to their involvement, the festival was not only about music, but also about the full experience of Okinawan street culture with all five senses.

Japan is now one of the few countries in the world where festivals are held on a large scale. In recent years, although the scale of these festivals is not as large as that of the larger festivals, many of the best local festivals are now being held in Japan, where local artists, delicious local food, and the atmosphere of the venue are all deeply rooted in the local area, making it possible to enjoy the entire area as if you were a tourist.

In this respect, the "Nami no Ue Festival" also offers a rich variety of contents, which makes the two themes of "Okinawa and street culture" more deeply felt, and above all, the sense of distance between the performing artists and exhibitors and the visitors is very close. I was very impressed by the fact that the event is firmly rooted in the local community, with both sides enjoying the event and creating the space together. The scene of the AKAZUCHI crew and others involved in the festival running the festival site and chatting with visitors, in addition to their own stage performances, was a true symbol of the warmth of this festival.

The finale moment when all the performances were over. I am looking forward to hearing the finger whistles that echoed through the hall at the signal of RITTO, who performed as the grand finale, again next year in an even louder sound here in Okinawa.