About Esashi, a "Japan Heritage" "Esashi, Sightseeing Promotional Video, Japan Heritage" (北海道江差町　観光ＰＲ動画（日本遺産)), is a video created by the "Esashi Municipal Department of Tourism." Esashi, in the Hiyama District of Hokkaido, is the first place to be registered as a Japan Heritage in Hokkaido, and is also a place of scenic beauty. It sits on the coast of the Sea of Japan, with a population of 7,561. (2019, May). It's said that Esashi is the origin of Hokkaido's culture and thrived thanks to it's herring fishing during the Edo Period. In 2014, the mayor of Esashi became the youngest mayor in Japan at just 29 years of age. In this video, the attractions of Esashi are packed into just 3 minutes of footage. Enjoy the nature and history of Esashi, Hokkaido. What Are "Esashi Herring"? Source :YouTube screenshot Esashi is surrounded by the ocean, and in the Edo period (1603-1867) it was a place where herring fishing was going through a boom. This is explained at 0:26 in the video. At the time, herring was a good fertilizer. Esashi was busy, especially in May, because herring was a seasonal fish in May and many ships from Edo (Tokyo) and Osaka, came to fish for them. Because of this, the popular phrase "Even Edo is not as busy as Esashi in May" was coined. Many of the leftover goods remain in the storehouses of merchants from the time, demonstrating their prosperity and showing just how successful the business was. Even now, herring soba is popular as a local dish in Esashi. Check out the video at 0:51 to see the merchant's warehouses. Tourist Attractions in Esashi! Source :YouTube screenshot There's Kamamome Island where ships called "Kitamaebune" docked during the herring fishing season, Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社, Itsukushima jinjya), where sailors prayed for safety at sea, and the strangely shaped Heishi Rock (瓶子岩, Heishiiwa). There's a legend of Heishi Rock, that says when the sailors couldn’t catch any herring and were facing starvation, they poured divine water into the sea causing a swarm of herring to appear. Since then, every July a ceremony is held where they replace the "Shimenawa" (a rope used to cordon off consecrated areas or as a talisman against evil​) at Heishi Rock. This can be seen at 1:27 in the video. The Ubagami Grand Shrine (姥神大神宮, Ubagami Daijingu) which overlooks the port of Esashi, is famous for its summer festival, the Ubagami Grand Shrine Togyo Festival, which is said to be the oldest festival in Hokkaido. From 2:01, the festival song "Esashi Oiwake," which has been passed down since the Edo Period, can be seen being performed. It has a nostalgic melody reminiscent of Edo and because of that, it's said that "Esashi Oiwake" is the king of folk songs. The herring fishing song "Soran Bushi" and "Hokkai Bonuta" also represent the culture of Hokkaido. We recommend visiting Esashi during the summer festival where you can check out the big floats and the Ohayashi band. Recommended Tourist Attractions Photo：Esashi Inishie Kaido Street There are many historic places and buildings that remain in Esashi, such as shrines, temples and houses. Walking down Inishie Kaido Street, next to the ocean, will take you to those historic places. For example, The Former Nakamura Family Merchant House, Yokoyama House, and the Esashi Town Historical Museum are all attractive spots that retain a good old-fashioned Japanese atmosphere. Visiting Esashicho Bunka Hall, Esashi Town Meeting Hall, Esashi Oiwake/Yama Museum, and the Esashi Town Historical Museum to learn about the history is another great way to enjoy oneself. The Kaiyo Maru from Netherlands can be seen near Kamome Island. It was a battleship of the Shogunate's navy at the end of the Edo Period. (About 1860) You also get a great view, surrounded by the ocean waves, when the weather is nice. Don't forget your camera! Summary of Esashi Photo：A school of fish As you can see in the video, Esashi, Hokkaido is a fishing town with many and festivals and historic places left over from the old days of Japan. Enjoy seeing the attractions of Hokkaido through the video. At 2:36, we learn that, in 2017, a school of herring were seen for the first time in 104 years in Esashi, and a new light began to shine on Esashi once again. Esashi is a sort of hole-in-the-wall destination in Hokkaido, but has easy access from Hakodate by train or bus. If you're headed this way, we recommend checking out Hakodate as well! Also, if Esashi interests you, check out the local products of Hometown Tax Donation Program. There are attractive local products like queen crab and gasa shrimp. 【Official website】Esashi Town hall homepage https://www.hokkaido-esashi.jp/ 【Trip Advisor】Esashi https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g1120309-Esashi_cho_Hiyama_gun_Hokkaido-Vacations.html

Introducing the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival in Shibushi, Kagoshima This video, titled "【Shibushi Summer Soba Festival】Shibushi City【Official】" (【志布志の夏越しそばまつり】志布志市 【公式】), was uploaded by "Yasuda Movie Laboratory" (安田映像研究所). It introduces the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival of Yamamiya Shrine via a PR video with drone footage. In Shibushi, Kagoshima, located in the Kyushu region of southern Japan, the city takes advantage of its mild climate to grow "Haru no Ibuki," a variety of buckwheat that is sown in late March and harvested in late May or early June. Haru no Ibuki flowers can be seen at 1:22 in the video. The Shibushi Summer Soba Festival is an event where freshly harvested soba noodles are served. This article introduces tourist information for the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival. Be sure to check out the video to see the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival being held on the precincts of Yamamiya Shrine. What Kind of Event is the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival? Photo：The thatched ring used in the purification ceremony The Shibushi Summer Soba Festival in Shibushi, Kagoshima, is held on June 30 at Yamamiya Shrine, home to the National Natural Monument "Shibushi no Okusu" (The Great Camphor of Shibushi). Starting with a purification ceremony in which visitors pass through a "thatched ring" to pray for good health in the precincts of the shrine where the giant camphor, estimated to be 1,300 years old, stands, 1,000 servings of fresh soba, a special aromatic dish made with nihachi soba flour (8 parts buckwheat, 2 parts wheat flour), is served. In addition to soba, visitors can also enjoy conger eel tempura caught in Shibushi Bay as well as fresh green tea. Legend has it that the giant camphor tree, shown at 1:43 in the video, was planted by Emperor Tenchi (Emperor Tenji). Chinowa kuguri, a summer ritual that involves walking through a loop of cogon grass, can be seen at 2:51. The summer buckwheat harvest in Shibushi is the earliest in Japan, and the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival is held to celebrate the opening of the harvest. About the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival in Shibushi, Kagoshima Photo：Soba Summer soba in Shibushi is made with natural underground water rich in minerals that has passed through Shirasu-Daichi, a pyroclastic plateau originating from the Kirishima Mountains. The spring-sown soba has a unique flavor and is served with a sweet katsuoboshi (skipjack)-flavored dipping sauce. The summer soba of Shibushi has been produced since 2010 as part of Shibushi's community development efforts by growers who wish for good health and longevity. Fresh soba is available at nearby restaurants from the day of the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival and is also sold online. Tourist Information for Shibushi Summer Soba Festival 「To get to Yamamiya Shrine, the site of the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival, it's a 10-minute drive from JR Shibushi Station or a 20-minute drive from the Soo Yagoro Interchange. Parking is also available. Nearby are tourist attractions such as Daguri Cape Beach, Osaki Fureai no Sato Park, and Kuni no Matsubara Camping Ground, making it possible for visitors to travel while staying in touch with nature. Summary of the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival of Shibushi, Kagoshima The above video, titled "【Shibushi Summer Soba Festival】Shibushi City【Official】" introduces the Shibushi Summer Soba Festival. Enjoy traditional Japanese festivals and pray for good health by eating delicious soba noodles!

Roppongi Art Night Video Introduction This video, titled "Roppongi Art Night｜Spin-off Project_Message Video 'Right Now, Can Art Revitalize the City?'" (六本木アートナイト スピンオフ・プロジェクト_メッセージ映像「いま、アートで街を元気にできる?」), was uploaded by "Roppongi Art Night - Digital [RAN TV]" (六本木アートナイト・デジタル【RAN TV】). The video contains a powerful message with the theme, "Right Now, Can Art Revitalize the City?" Be sure to check it out. Roppongi Art Night - An Art Festival in the City of Tokyo Source :YouTube screenshot In March 2009, Tokyo's leading art festival began with the launch of Roppongi Art Night. Roppongi Art Night was held with the aim of proposing a new lifestyle of enjoying new art in daily life and creating a pioneering model for urban development in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The festival has been gaining popularity year after year as a one-night-only art festival that allows visitors to experience the extraordinary by arranging a variety of artworks, not only contemporary art, but also design and music, throughout Roppongi, where various commercial and cultural facilities are concentrated. Roppongi Art Night 2021 Canceled Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic Photo：People wearing masks Roppongi Art Night has been held since 2009, but due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, Roppongi Art Night 2021, which was scheduled to take place in the fall of 2021, was postponed to March 18, 2022. However, unable to escape the effects of the pandemic, the Roppongi Art Night Executive Committee decided to outright cancel the festival, and many users on Twitter expressed their disappointment and sadness at the announcement. In response, an online event called the "Inclusive Art Program" was held to encourage people to share the enjoyment of art despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and many art fans participated and had a great time at the events. Have an Amazing Time at Roppongi Art Night! Source :YouTube screenshot The charm of Roppongi Art Night is that visitors can enjoy art outside of art museums. The entire town of Roppongi is the stage. The main attraction of Roppongi Art Night is that everyone is welcome to participate in the event, including those who are invited to submit video works and other artworks. In past Roppongi Art Night events, furoshiki was the main theme, and furoshiki designed by Yayoi Kusama and Takeshi Kitano were shown to the public. In addition, although it was canceled, Roppongi Art Night 2021 was a collaborative project with Doraemon. There was also a program in which participants could enjoy guided tours by volunteers. Rather than a typical commentary on artworks, the program focused on a dialogue with the participants to convey the charm of Roppongi as a town. It was a fascinating program that offers each participant a unique experience. In addition, Roppongi Art Night also featured a program in which visitors could enjoy the gorgeous aroma and taste of Suntory's "Hibiki" whiskey while viewing exhibits and stories related to the whiskey. Roppongi Art Night is an event where the entire town of Roppongi becomes a stage for enjoying art. Summary of Roppongi Art Night Roppongi Art Night is a one-night event where the town of Roppongi is filled with all kinds of art. You can really feel the energy and vitality from the video! When Roppongi Art Night, one of Japan's premier art festivals, is held, consider picking up a guidebook and visiting one of the Instagram-worthy art spaces? Whether you're alone, going as a couple, with family, or participating in a guided tour or event, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Buses will be in operation during the festival, allowing visitors to enjoy the art throughout the night. Special tickets are also available, so be sure to come out and enjoy this art festival in Roppongi to the fullest! 【TripAdvisor】Roppongi https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g14129735-Roppongi_Minato_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto-Vacations.html