FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL

(July)

Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2007, the Fuji Rock Festival is the largest rock music festival in Japan where nearly 100,000 people congregate every year. The venue has been set at the Naeba Ski Resort since 1999, and the schedule has been revised to a total of 3 days and more stages have been added since then. Big-name headliners perform at the festival each year, so this event gets a lot of attention from overseas media as well. Although it is called a rock festival, a wide range of artists perform there, from grand old names of rock music to up-and-coming new faces, from jazz to techno musicians. The real thrill of this festival is that you can enjoy the music at your leisure in the grandeur of nature. Moreover, other attractions such as food booths and massage tents are set up for your pleasure.

Photo (C) Masanori Naruse


[Opening time]
Venue: Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata prefecture (40 min by shuttle bus from Echigo Yuzawa Station on the JR Line)

Sumo

(Year-round)

Sumo is a combat sport where two Rikishis or Sumo wrestlers fight in the dohyo ring utilizing various winning techniques (Kimarite). This sport is widely acknowledged internationally as a typical national Japanese sport with a long history. Intensive sparring bouts of power or tremendous throws attract everyone from children to seniors and this sport still retains a deep-rooted popularity today. Sumo has an official ranking list called "Banzuke" that shows the comparative strength of Rikishis, and the higher ranks are called Makuuchi and Rikishis with ability in Makuuchi join the San-yaku (Komusubi, Sekiwake, Ozeki) or three highest ranks below Yokozuna. At the top, there is Yokozuna. Official grand Sumo tournaments are held 6 times a year. Each tournament lasts 15 days, and the Rikishi gaining the most wins takes first prize. The results of the grand Sumo tournament greatly affect their ranking in the "Banzuke" for the next tournament.


[Opening time]
·New Year Grand Sumo Tournament
(1st or 2nd Sunday in January, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo)
·Spring Grand Sumo Tournament (Osaka basho)
(2nd Sunday in March, Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium)
·Summer Grand Sumo Tournament
(2nd Sunday in May, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo)
·Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament
(1st or 2nd Sunday in July, Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium)
·Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament
(2nd Sunday in September, Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo)
·Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament
(2nd Sunday in November, Fukuoka Convention Center)

Introducing Japan

When you hear the word 'Japan', what do you think of? Does your mind fill with images of ancient temples or futuristic cities? Do you see visions of mist-shrouded hills or lightning-fast bullet trains? Do you think of suit-clad businessmen or kimono-clad geisha? Whatever image you have of Japan, it's probably accurate, because it's all there. But you may also have some misconceptions about Japan. For example, many people believe that Japan is one of the world's most expensive countries. In fact, it's cheaper to travel in Japan than in much of North America, Western Europe and parts of Oceania. Others think that Japan is impenetrable or even downright difficult. The fact is, Japan is one of the easiest countries in which to travel. It is, simply put, a place that will remind you why you started travelling in the first place.

If traditional culture is your thing, you can spend weeks in cities such as Kyoto and Nara, gorging yourself on temples, shrines, kabuki, ō (stylised dance-drama), tea ceremonies and museums packed with treasures from Japan's rich artistic heritage. If modern culture and technology is your thing, Japan's cities are an absolute wonderland - an easy peek into the future of the human race, complete with trend-setting cafés and fabulous restaurants. Outside the cities, you'll find natural wonders the length and breadth of the archipelago. From the coral reefs of Okinawa to the ski-resort of Niseko, Japan has more than enough natural wonders to compete with its cultural treasures. Then there's the food: whether it's impossibly fresh sushi in Tokyo, perfectly battered tempura in Kyoto, or a hearty bowl of rāmen in Osaka, if you like eating you're going to love Japan.