The Hitachi International Street Performance Festival 2004
　
  The International Street Performance Festival was held in Hitachi and Hitachi -Taga on May 8th and 9th. This festival has a history of over 10 years. Once again this year the streets were filled with artists, spectators, and shops organized by local people. The evening event named “Party in the Moonlight” turned out to be very successful, with almost a romantic feeling.
Most interesting were performances of artists from abroad. The circus group from China gathered a crowd of people by the preciseness and tension of their high quality acrobatics. These acrobatics, performed at third story height, were ones of life or death, and the success of these was met with thunderous applause.
  The performances seemed to differ from country to country. The “Rue de Teatre” from France, displayed beauty, technique, and comedy all at once. The golden giant with giraffe-like legs looked like a statue whilst stationary but turned into a monster and then changed into a baby, when begging for balloons which children were holding. This silent performance was broadcast on TV in the evening. The other artists from France appeared on to the stage as clowns.

  But when their performance reached its climax, they showed great skill on swings in the air. This spectacle was a mixture of laughter, excitement and relief.
The key to street performances is communicating with the spectators. And the champion of this field seemed to be the Argentinean comedian. His tools were just toys and several Japanese words, but almost no one would leave his stage.
  A British musician mentioned, “I like Hitachi’s environment and atmosphere. People in Hitachi are very friendly. I’m also entertaining my self.”
  The festival itself made us feel the power of the people who had prepared for this event. Most of the Japanese artists are comedians. It was heart-warming to see fathers, who seem to be keen businessmen on weekdays, being forced into performances. It will be a good memory for their families to see their “daddies”
become heroes. There were young performers who made blunders, but the spectators cheered them for trying again. That kindness was so encouraging.
  We want to thank all the artists and staff who participated in the festival. And we hope Hitachi will be a city full of vitality when we gather again at the International Street Performers Festival in 2005.

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