The Hibiya Festival—A Celebration of Theater! Head to the entertainment mecca this Golden Week!
The Hibiya Festival (organized by Mitsui Fudosan and Hibiya Area Management, with cooperation from The Imperial Hotel, Toho, Nissei Cultural Promotion Foundation (Nissei Theatre), Nippon Broadcasting System, and others) began on April 26th, aiming to revitalize Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward Hibiya area as a mecca for entertainment.
This area is known as a hub for entertainment, home to numerous theaters and cinemas, and historically featuring the Rokumeikan, where glamorous social gatherings unfolded during the Meiji period.
This festival is being held as an event to bring theater experiences closer to people throughout the entire area.
The festival runs for 25 days, primarily during Golden Week (until May 6), concluding on May 20.
At Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, which opened on March 29, various stage performances including plays, dance, musicals, and opera will be held. With the cooperation of surrounding facilities, visitors can also enjoy short performances of full-scale opera and dance for free.
Events are also planned at the Imperial Hotel and Hibiya Park, making this a festival that will immerse the Hibiya area in entertainment.
On the 26th, the opening ceremony took place at the Step Plaza in Tokyo Midtown Hibiya, featuring a one-night-only special show produced by director Amon Miyamoto.
The show's protagonist is a young girl yearning for the adult world. She falls in love, becomes intoxicated by entertainment like music and dance, learns life's pains, and grows toward the future.
The stage journeyed through eras, beginning with a ball from the good old days, then showcasing music and dance representative of each period: Mobo/Moga, big band jazz, Taiyozoku, disco, hip-hop, and into the near future.
Actor Kenya Osumi served as the storyteller, with singer-songwriter Akinori Nakagawa and gospel singer Emiko Suzuki also appearing. Alongside the splendid performances of approximately 50 dancers, they captivated the gathered audience.
As the show reached its grand finale, the giant girl symbol sculpture "Flora," installed in the center of the plaza, awakened. Rising and opening its eyes, it symbolized the protagonist girl waking from her dream, marking the finale.
Flora is a work by contemporary artist Kenji Yanobe, and special nighttime shows featuring unique performances will be held during the event period.
Miyamoto stated, "Hibiya is a place of memories for me, where I first worked as a director. It taught me everything—how to bring joy, entertain, and connect people. Let's all work together to make Hibiya even more vibrant!"
Website:
https://www.hibiya.tokyo-midtown.com/hibiya-festival/
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