A cozy, homey festival. Five reasons why Tops is so popular.
ITADAKI" is a music festival that started in Shizuoka in 2008. It is a music festival packed with so many attractions that it is impossible to count them all: genre-less music by a wide range of artists from indies to majors, pleasant weather, comfortable space production, and consideration for the environment. HOUYHNHNM's editorial staff also participated in the festival, which just finished its 12th year. Two days of music and outdoor activities (and food and beer, of course!) . We can hardly wait for next year's festival, and in order to share these feelings with you, we will delve into the festival's charms from our own perspective.
Earlier this month, I visited Yoshida Park in Yoshida-cho, Shizuoka Prefecture . The purpose of my visit was to attend the "ITADAKI" music festival held here, which started in 2008 and is now in its 12th year. And it should be noted that the festival has been repeatedly updated and expanded its scale each time.
However, it is not just about inviting big-name musicians and attracting visitors in a visible way. Tops" pays attention to every detail, and is always brushing up on areas for improvement from the standpoint of the visitors. In other words, Tops is a festival that the organizers have created with their own hands and feet.
I experienced the charm of "Tops" to the fullest during these two days. The quality of the music and food, of course, but most of all, the atmosphere of the venue was fantastic. This is not something that can be achieved by any amount of effort on the part of the organizers. The reason for this is that the background of the atmosphere includes the people who gathered there. Because each individual is able to spend time comfortably, there is no trouble, and people can immerse themselves in the festival in an enjoyable and safe atmosphere. Such a mood emerged throughout the venue, transforming itself into a lively scene that we were able to see.
So, why did we feel comfortable? I have been trying to figure out why.
REASON_01 The artists and the timetable were carefully planned.
Musicians of all sizes and colors perform at the "Summit." They will entertain the crowd with a variety of music ranging from pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, reggae, and abstract music.
The timetable was designed with the atmosphere of the event in mind, with lively musicians during the daytime and quiet, melodic musicians in the evening, creating a program that would comfortably envelop the audience according to the time of the day. The program was designed to create a pleasant mood according to the time of day. The program was designed to create a pleasant mood according to the time of the day, with lively musicians during the day and quiet, melodic musicians in the evening.
King Gnu (ITADAKI Photo Crew)
never young beach
The top batter was Memories Bastard A-Team. The sunny weekend started off pleasantly, playing danceable funk. Then, artists such as D.A.N., rhyme sisto, iri, MIGHTY CRON, PUSHIM with HOME GROWN, King Gnu, never young beach, and SPECIAL OTHERS appeared one after another, gradually lifting the spirits of the visitors.
Clammbon (ITADAKI Photo Crew)
At the pleasant time when the sun was setting and the sky was creating a beautiful blue gradation, Clammbon appeared on the Candle Stage with an acoustic set. The band performed in a magical space with only candlelight, creating a time when one could feel the extraordinary environment of the festival even more strongly.
Ryosuke Nagaoka (ITADAKI Photo Crew)
After that, GOMA & The JRS and Schadaraparr took the main stage and the crowd heated up again. And just a few hours before the date changed, Ryosuke Nagaoka, a well-known performer at Port of Notes and HOUYHNHNM's, gave an enchanting performance on the Moon Stage set up at the camp site. Mixed with the chirping of insects, his gentle and pleasant performance slowed down the mood and soothed the visitors' fatigue.
Masakatsu Takagi (ITADAKI Photo Crew)
The next morning . Masakatsu Takagi's piano melody echoed through the verdant venue , and the second day began slowly.
spiteful
. followed by Okinawan rapper Spit Ki. Skirt, with their intonated melodies and pleasant band ensemble, took the stage next, setting the stage on fire for the second day, followed by Rickie-G and PJ around noon. Their slumbering groove was perfectly suited to the situation of Sunday noon.
From 2:00 p.m., Huiyi Ishizaki, ORIGINAL LOVE, The Birthday, BRAHMAN, and Sambo Master continued to take the stage, fueling the audience's emotions as they accelerated, showing us the amazing power that music can create.
As on the first day, the candlelight hours started again at sunset. On stage, EGO-WRAPPIN' will perform "Mellow Twilight SET. The music is literally mellow and relaxing.
The final act of the night was the ever-popular Shibusashirazu Orchestra. Using the entire floor as a stage, their live performance broke down the barriers between performer and audience, bringing the venue together as one.
This flowing and precise timetable allows us to grasp the characteristics of each artist and learn about the appeal of their performance. This allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the music for two days without getting bored, which is the beauty of "Tops".
REASON_02 The coziness and hospitality of the green venue.
While listening to the music, visitors took a variety of approaches to listening to the artists: enjoying the performance closer to the stage, sitting on the lawn and taking their time at their own pace, or enjoying food and beer in hand.
The venue was divided into spaces where people could spread out their own chairs and tables, and spaces where people who wanted to listen to music could enjoy it freely, allowing them to enjoy the music at their own distance. Moreover, Yoshida Park, where the event was held, has a beautifully maintained lawn, which was another attraction. If you get tired of standing, you can sit down and take a break. Many people were seen taking off their sandals and walking barefoot.
Tickets for the first day were sold out, but the venue was not packed with people, and there was plenty of space for each visitor to enjoy themselves. . This can be said to be another example of the high level of hospitality at "Tops".
There were also many booths selling goods, as well as food and drink booths. There was a wide variety of food and drink booths, including curry, yakisoba, pizza, and snacks such as fries. Drinks were also available, including beer, cocktails, and shochu, allowing us to enjoy a variety of foods according to our mood. One of the things that made me happy was that there was never a long line at any one store, making for a smooth shopping experience, and the food and drink corners were conveniently dispersed throughout the large venue, rather than clustered in a single location. Needless to say, all of the restaurants served high quality food, which is why I felt compelled to visit them to enjoy a wide variety of food.
REASON_03 Safe for even small children to play with.
The "summit" has a children's area for children to play, and I saw adults playing with the children everywhere. With so many children gathered in one place and surrounded by so much playground equipment, how could they not have fun?
Workshops for children were also held in the area, actively creating opportunities for parents and children to enjoy the festival together.
It was heartwarming to see adults helping each other hand in hand and putting the children's enjoyment first, and at the same time, it was a learning moment. Instead of relying unilaterally on the organizers, visitors do what they can to help each other. This scene of people working together to create an enjoyable event may be unique to "Tops" where there are many families.
REASON_04 An environmentally friendly and earth-friendly festival.
As soon as we arrived at the venue, we encountered a scene at the entrance where waste oil from households was being collected. At Tops, the electricity used in the venue is run by biodiesel power generation. This is all the electricity needed for the festival, such as stage lighting, sound, and electricity for the stall tents.
The waste oil that we bring with us is converted into energy, which is then used to run the festival, and we ourselves enjoy the performances of the artists, the food, and the many other activities. Isn't this an extremely eco-friendly cycle? Moreover, each liter of waste oil collected is converted into 10 yen, which is used to support reconstruction efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Kumamoto Earthquake.
In addition, all food and drink containers served at the venue are deposit based. When you are finished eating, the dishes are collected at the reusable dish return station, not in the trash, and are washed before being used again. In this way, labor and manpower are secured to prevent unnecessary waste.
Instead of just thinking about having fun, how can we have fun while contributing to society? Tops" gave me a good opportunity to think about such things.
