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Entertainment
Juggling Performance – Kouki Kinoshita
As a child, he taught himself juggling in order to encourage his father, who was battling a serious illness.
In high school, he won the Kansai regional competition of the Geiwan Grand Prix, a national tournament which determines Japan’s top street performer, and went on to achieve second place in the championship tournament.
In 2020, he represented Japan as a member of a performance group at “Cirque de Demain”, a international circus competition held in France, and was awarded the Judges’ Special Prize.
He has also been appointed as a Biwako Otsu Hometown Tourism Ambassador for the City of Otsu, spreading joy and inspiration to many through his passion for bringing smiles to people’s faces.
- Website
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X (Formerly Twitter)：木下洸希(Kinoshita Kouki)
Instagram：木下洸希(@juggler_kouki)
Fireworks
The Lake Biwa Great Fireworks Festival is held every August in Otsu, where approximately 10,000 fireworks light up the night sky and reflect on the surface of Lake Biwa, attracting visitors from across and beyond the prefecture.
It is also possible to arrange a private fireworks display over Lake Biwa, customized in scale and other details based on your preferences. Consider this special fireworks experience on the lake as a memorable attraction for your MICE participants.
Traditional Performance Arts
Otsu Festival Musical Accompaniment
The Otsu Festival is a grand autumn festival held at Tenson Shrine that began in the Edo period (1603-1868). It is considered one of the Three Great Otsu Festivals, adding vibrant color to the autumn season in the lake city of Otsu.
During the main festival, 13 “hikiyama” floats parade through the city over the course of an entire day.
As the floats move through the streets, the floats are accompanied by traditional “hayashi” festival music, while “yakuyoke chimake” (protective charms) and hand towels unique to each float are thrown to the crowd. Additionally, mechanical puppet performances (karakuri) are showcased at various stops along the route.
In this attraction, we will present a live performance of the “hayashi” festival music, allowing your participants to experience a part of the Otsu Festival, which has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.
- Website
- http://www.otsu-matsuri.jp/home/
Zeze Sekiroku Daiko Drumming
The Sekiroku Daiko Preservation Society was established in 1991 to revitalize the Zeze community. Since then, the group has been actively performing in seasonal festivals and events in both the local Zeze area and beyond. They also provide taiko drumming instruction at kindergartens, spreading joy through their energetic and exciting performances. Come and experience the powerful performances of the taiko drums live!
※The name Sekiroku (meaning “Stone Deer” in Japanese) originates from a historical event in which a stone, said to resemble a fallen deer, helped Zeze Castle avoid suspicion from the shogunate regime. As a result, the castle became known as Sekiroku-jo (Stone Deer Castle).
Goshu Ondo
Shiga Prefecture was historically known as the “Omi Province” or “Goshu,” and the name Goshu Ondo was taken from this old regional name. Goshu Ondo is also known as “Merchant Ondo”, as it is said to have been influenced by the Omi merchants of the time. Yatai Ondo is a type of festive dance song (Bon Odori song) performed on stages or raised platforms known as yagura, featuring a lively rhythm accompanied by taiko drums, gongs, and shamisen. Goshu Ondo is one of Shiga Prefecture’s most iconic folk performing arts, and is an essential part of summer festivals and events across the region.
※The name Sekiroku (meaning “Stone Deer” in Japanese) originates from a historical event in which a stone, said to resemble a fallen deer, helped Zeze Castle avoid suspicion from the shogunate regime. As a result, the castle became known as Sekiroku-jo (Stone Deer Castle).
Ogi Daiko
The history of Ogi Daiko dates back to the mid-Heian period (794-1185), when the military commander Minamoto no Mitsunaka deeply revered Ogura Shrine, and began the Ogi Festival with a grand offering of five portable mikoshi shrines. Ogi Daiko plays an important role in the progression of the Ogi Festival, with notable rhythms such as “Shuraiuchi,” which calls people together, and “Miyadachi,” which signals the five mikoshi shrines as they depart from Ogura Shrine to the Otabisho (the temporary sacred resting place for portable shrines). Today, the local community has established the “Ogi Daiko Preservation Society,” with young people and children actively participating to ensure its tradition and legacy continue.
