Stirring reggae tunes, huge variety of colorful craftworks and delicious flavors of exotic Jamaican delicacies gathered a wide range of spectators at Yoyogi Park, Tokyo, on the 9th and 10th of May.
Started 25 years ago as a song contest dedicated to the memory of reggae icon Bob Marley, One Love Jamaica Festival now has developed into a two-day event with a wide range of activities and stage performances. This year the festival was held under this name and in this form for the fifth time.
The first day of the festival felt more like a preparation for the second day – viewers were merely invited to enter the amazing world of Jamaican culture by watching the performances of reggae dancers, such as “Taxi Hi-Fi” and “Reggae Dancer Show Time”. Both dance companies were founded in Japan and consist of Japanese dancers. “Taxi Hi-Fi” has celebrated its 25th anniversary at the festival stage this year.
The highlight of the first day was the creation of the “One Love Art Flag”. A huge piece of cloth was laid right on the ground under the trees and it was crammed with countless cans of paint, so everyone could make their small contribution. Children especially had a lot of fun leaving their handprints on both the flag and their clothes. In the evening a long white cloth with colorful tree which branches hosted a lot of birds that cannot be recognized by even the most experienced ornithologist was hang for everyone to observe among with other smaller artworks signed by handprints. According to the one of the visitors of the festival, one of the most charming points of the festival is that you can not only watch, but also to be an active participant among with the other people, which creates a wonderful atmosphere of “One Love”.
One Love Jamaica Festival also gathered craftsmen, who are interested in Jamaican culture, from all over Japan. The considerable motivation was that anyone could easily sign up for a trade spot on-line on the website of the festival. To the joy of the visitors market began its work from the first day. A wide assortment of goods from handmade accessories to handmade clothes and even shoes could be found in the motley tiny tents.
Japanese who are for some unknown reason always way too excited about food could not be disappointed in all the opportunities that the bunch of small kiosks offered for lunch and dinner. Among with traditional Japanese food that usually can be found at Japanese festivals (such as yakisoba, takoyaki and all the other types of “yaki”) the curious people could taste some Jamaican delicacies such as jerk chicken and different types of spicy and mild dishes accompanied with nan bread.
As confusing as it may sound, the second day of the festival began with the opening ceremony which was practically a chain of small performances illustrating the history of Jamaican music and dance. This was a perfect introduction to the song contest that took place latter. Despite the fact that One Love Jamaica Festival was held for only the fifth time, the song contest started 24 years ago, 4 years after the death of Bob Marley (May, 11, 1981). The singers can choose any song of Bob Marley to perform, showing their respect and love to the great musician and his music. Since last year, the winner has received a prize trip for two to Montego Bay’s renowned Half Moon Hotel. This year lucky one was Mirai Yamamoto form Ibaraki prefecture who performed “Zimbabwe” that was written by Marley in 1979 to support those fighting against white minority rule in Rhodesia.
According to the present Jamaican ambassador to Japan, Claudia Cecile Barnes, One Love Jamaica Festival was made to “take everyone to a journey to Jamaica” and unite everyone with “one love”. And it was truly amazing, how Japanese people who are considered to be a close society, has penetrated Jamaican culture with so much enthusiasm.
Started 25 years ago as a song contest dedicated to the memory of reggae icon Bob Marley, One Love Jamaica Festival now has developed into a two-day event with a wide range of activities and stage performances. This year the festival was held under this name and in this form for the fifth time.
The first day of the festival felt more like a preparation for the second day – viewers were merely invited to enter the amazing world of Jamaican culture by watching the performances of reggae dancers, such as “Taxi Hi-Fi” and “Reggae Dancer Show Time”. Both dance companies were founded in Japan and consist of Japanese dancers. “Taxi Hi-Fi” has celebrated its 25th anniversary at the festival stage this year.
The highlight of the first day was the creation of the “One Love Art Flag”. A huge piece of cloth was laid right on the ground under the trees and it was crammed with countless cans of paint, so everyone could make their small contribution. Children especially had a lot of fun leaving their handprints on both the flag and their clothes. In the evening a long white cloth with colorful tree which branches hosted a lot of birds that cannot be recognized by even the most experienced ornithologist was hang for everyone to observe among with other smaller artworks signed by handprints. According to the one of the visitors of the festival, one of the most charming points of the festival is that you can not only watch, but also to be an active participant among with the other people, which creates a wonderful atmosphere of “One Love”.
One Love Jamaica Festival also gathered craftsmen, who are interested in Jamaican culture, from all over Japan. The considerable motivation was that anyone could easily sign up for a trade spot on-line on the website of the festival. To the joy of the visitors market began its work from the first day. A wide assortment of goods from handmade accessories to handmade clothes and even shoes could be found in the motley tiny tents.
Japanese who are for some unknown reason always way too excited about food could not be disappointed in all the opportunities that the bunch of small kiosks offered for lunch and dinner. Among with traditional Japanese food that usually can be found at Japanese festivals (such as yakisoba, takoyaki and all the other types of “yaki”) the curious people could taste some Jamaican delicacies such as jerk chicken and different types of spicy and mild dishes accompanied with nan bread.
As confusing as it may sound, the second day of the festival began with the opening ceremony which was practically a chain of small performances illustrating the history of Jamaican music and dance. This was a perfect introduction to the song contest that took place latter. Despite the fact that One Love Jamaica Festival was held for only the fifth time, the song contest started 24 years ago, 4 years after the death of Bob Marley (May, 11, 1981). The singers can choose any song of Bob Marley to perform, showing their respect and love to the great musician and his music. Since last year, the winner has received a prize trip for two to Montego Bay’s renowned Half Moon Hotel. This year lucky one was Mirai Yamamoto form Ibaraki prefecture who performed “Zimbabwe” that was written by Marley in 1979 to support those fighting against white minority rule in Rhodesia.
According to the present Jamaican ambassador to Japan, Claudia Cecile Barnes, One Love Jamaica Festival was made to “take everyone to a journey to Jamaica” and unite everyone with “one love”. And it was truly amazing, how Japanese people who are considered to be a close society, has penetrated Jamaican culture with so much enthusiasm.
Looking good
ReplyDeleteThank you! Ganbarimasu~
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