Kobe Circuit Fest” to be held in Sannomiya area to bring music to everyday life – Kobe

Kobe Circuit Festival” will be held from August 1 to 3 at various locations in the Sannomiya area.

Kobe Circuit Fest” in 2024

This event is designed to enjoy music, comedy, street performances, dance and other entertainment as well as food while touring the city. Folk singer Sakuto Tashiro (作人), the founder of the festival, first held the event in 2023.

Sakuto said, “I started this event to create an environment where street musicians can perform on a daily basis and to foster a culture of enjoying music in the city as a whole. What started as a one-man effort led to the establishment of a Kobe City institution called “KOBE Machinaka Performance,”” he explains.

This year will be the third year of the event, and more than 82 artists, including Kyogo Kawaguchi and “Sasaki Osamu from MOON CHILD,” will perform. The event will be held at the following eight venues

• Sankita Plaza
• Sankita Street
• Kobe Hankyu 2nd floor Grand Patio
• Sannomiya Platz
• SANRAKU (Sannomiya Hankyu Rakutenchi)
• Sannomiya Center Street
• Ikuta Shrine
• Kobe International House B1F Sunken Garden

Although the event is expanding in scale and gaining recognition, Sakuto is still bearing most of the operating costs on his own. He expressed his vision for the future, saying, “I want to build a sustainable system that can continue for 10 years, so that one day I can pass the baton to the next generation.

The event will be held from 13:00 to 21:00 on August 1, and from 12:00 to 21:00 on August 2 and 3. Admission is free, and the event will be held rain or shine (cancelled in case of stormy weather).