With summer already here, there was no better way for lovers of Japanese culture to welcome the season than to enjoy a fun-filled outdoor festival. March 31 marked Hinomoto’s Natsu Matsuri: A Japanese Summer Festival at Ateneo de Manila University’s Bellarmine Field. With everyone invited and welcome to attend the event, Ateneans and visitors alike got to experience a traditional Japanese summer festival through fun games, great food, and exciting live performances.
arkadymac.com is an official media partner for the event, and covering for us were our Correspondents Ai Chi and Yanna, who enjoyed attending the festival in their yukatas just for this occasion.
On its second year, Hinomoto’s Natsu Matsuri (夏祭り) recreated the experience of a traditional Japanese summer festival as it featured fun booths for event goers to partake in. Guests got to test their fishing skills with Kingyo-Sukui, got water balloons with the classic Yo-yo Tsuri, had sharpshooting with Shateki, as well as tried their luck at the lottery game. There was also the Batsu Game or Punishment Game, as well as raffles where attendees got nice prizes to take home.
Festivals and entertainment go hand in hand, and there were plenty of live performances featuring bands and dance groups from different circles throughout that night. There were Hinomoto’s homegrown musical talents with Hinomoto Ongaku and to the up-and-coming artiststhrough Ateneo Musicians Pool (AMP) featuring Alyson, New York Heights, and Allan Copuyoc & Co. Special guests like Kaleidoscope Eyes, Paola Mauricio, and Project: MATERIA also got on stage . Hino Odori, the organization’s dance pool, danced the traditional and lively Yosakoi.
As with any festival, there were lots of food and merchandise booths offering various goodies, collectibles, accessories and souvenirs from this magical night. as well as some nice yukatas.
In the spirit of a true summer festival, Natsu Matsuri was the time to simply enjoy each other’s company and to create timeless memories worth looking back on. All around the venue, all throughout the evening, you’d see friends, classmates, colleagues, family enjoying themselves amid the fanfare and entertainment under the summer evening sky.
Congratulations to Hinomoto for making Natsu Matsuri a wonderful event as we look forward to the next festival. Hinomoto’s Natsu Matsuri is co-presented by Royce’ Chocolate, Uber Philippines, Cool Japan, 100PLUS, and Infinitea. This event is sponsored by Jellyfish Education Consultancy, Rarejob Philippines, and Enerlife Philippines, with benefactor Yakult Philippines, as well as media partners magnetic-rose.net, WhenInManila.com, ClickTheCity, and arkadymac.com.
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