Jul 12, 2021 (Japan Times) - The organizers and some artists scheduled to take part in Ibaraki Prefecture's Rock in Japan Festival have expressed frustration over the abrupt canceling of the event even though the prefecture is not under a state of emergency.
The cancellation of the annual music festival, one of the nation's largest and which has been scrapped twice now in just two years, has sparked a backlash by some who noted that the Summer Olympics are to be held despite the state of emergency in place for the Tokyo area.
Also at issue is the canceled event won't be eligible for financial aid from the government. The central government would normally cover up to Y25 million in costs caused by the shutting down of the event. But because Ibaraki Prefecture is not currently under a state of emergency or quasi-emergency, that is not possible, said Taro Yamada, an Upper House lawmaker and member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
The cancellation does not bode well for the numerous other music festivals hoping to take place this summer.
Hokkaido's Rising Sun Rock Festival scheduled for August has already been canceled. Other summer music festivals that could be affected by the pandemic included the famed Fuji Rock Festival in Niigata Prefecture and Sweet Lover Shower in Yamanashi Prefecture, both also set to take place next month.
“We have to continue preparation while hoping the situation will improve,” said Tomoaki Ishitobi of Smash Corp., which is organizing the Fuji Rock event.
The decision to call off the long-planned Rock in Japan Festival came after Ibaraki’s local medical association met organizers on July 2 and urged them to contemplate canceling or postponing depending on the COVID-19 situation. Even if the show were to go on, the association also wanted further cuts to the number of spectators and more thorough infection-prevention measures at the venue.
