At Hamarikyu Gardens, redolent of Edo culture, the “Hamarikyu Great Edo Culture and Arts Festival 2019” was held from Friday, August 23 to Sunday, August 25, 2019, under the overall production of designer JUNKO KOSHINO, taking the yukata as its keyword for engaging with Japan’s history and traditional culture. The programme unfolded as hybrid entertainment where Edo and the present intersected: cultural content ranging from the various “ways” that are expressions of the Japanese spirit (kendo, naginata, iai, kado (flower arrangement) and sado (tea ceremony)), to the “Edo pastimes” that spread among the populace in the Edo period, Edo rakugo, and performances of traditional Japanese music evoking old Edo; and, by night, sound by a leading Japanese DJ, wadaiko (Japanese drums) performed by the elite ensemble “Fuun no Kai” led by Eitetsu Hayashi, and a performance in costumes designed by JUNKO KOSHINO that blended Edo with the contemporary. At the opening on Friday the 23rd, Tokyo Governor Koike and Miyata, Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs, attended as guests, and together with guest DJ KOO they brought the venue to life. A tea gathering hosted by Ito En (at the Nakajima Teahouse) was also held, serving wagashi and matcha produced by JUNKO KOSHINO on the theme of Edo pastimes. For the flower arrangement, created in collaboration with Ikebana International, modern and bold works were composed around the motifs of bamboo, the colour green and driftwood. Over three days, some 14,500 people visited this artistic celebration of culture, staged in a garden space rich with the fragrance of history and heritage. Organizer: Hamarikyu Great Edo Culture and Arts Festival 2019 Executive Committee Hamarikyu Great Edo Culture and Arts Festival 2019 Official Website Grants: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan Cultural Expo, Arts Council Support: Chuo City, Japan Tourism Agency Sponsors: Ito En, Ltd., Ki Kogyo Co., Ltd., Moët & Chandon, and others 
