Nakasu used to be full of music and energy, and on holidays it was bustling with children and adults alike. The music event "Nakasu JAZZ" was started with the desire to bring back that vibrancy once again.

Nakama Hiroshi, Managing Director of the Nakasu Jazz Executive Committee, has been leading this event for 16 years, as a collaboration between the Nakasu Town Association, which promotes the creation of a safe and secure town in the Nakasu area, and the Fukuoka Junior Chamber, which aims to "create new tourism content for Fukuoka."

The story behind the birth of Nakasu Jazz

Nakasu used to be a particularly lively area in Fukuoka City. Families would gather there during the day, and the whole area was filled with smiles. However, as time passed, Nakasu's image gradually changed to that of a "night town." As its entertainment district aspect became more emphasized, the daytime bustle diminished, and concerns about public safety spread.

Members of the Nakasu Town Association and the Fukuoka Junior Chamber of Commerce felt a sense of crisis about this situation.
"I decided to launch this project to revitalize Nakasu because I had a strong desire to make Nakasu a town where people can enjoy themselves safely again." Nakama-san started his business in Nakasu, and since then he has developed an affection and pride for the area and has devoted himself to this project.
"We chose a music event as a means to revitalize Nakasu. We thought that music had the power to bring people together and revitalize the town again." Nakama and his team thoroughly researched the historical background of Nakasu, and were convinced that jazz, in particular, was the perfect genre of music to hold an event in Nakasu.

"In the initial concept, we were thinking of holding a street jazz event. But by chance, one of Japan's leading jazz trumpeters, Hino Terumasa, ended up participating. This actually led to the event expanding in scale all at once, and it developed into a big stage event," says Nakama. And so, the first event in Nakasu, in the heart of Fukuoka City, attracted an astonishing amount of attention.

The charm of Nakasu JAZZ and the stories that are born every year

One of the great features of Nakasu Jazz is that it is held completely free of charge. This free event is the result of the strong desire of Nakama and the other management members to "bring the joy of music to everyone." The event is run by volunteers, and artists also share this spirit, continuing to hope to perform at Nakasu Jazz as a place where they can freely enjoy playing music.

"A team made up of live music venue owners and experts from event production companies is involved in selecting the artists. They carefully select the program based on the theme of the year, and they think of ways for the participating performers to liven up the town of Nakasu even more," says Nakama. Thanks to the volunteer experts, Nakasu Jazz continues to provide new excitement to visitors every year.

"Another attraction of Nakasu Jazz is the unscheduled session performances. Artists who are not part of the official program will improvise together on stage or in the street, which is one of the best parts of Nakasu Jazz. It's something that can only be done because it's a free event." The unpredictable way of enjoying music that comes from chance sessions is a special experience that is unique to Nakasu Jazz for both artists and audiences.

This kind of improvisation, unconstrained by time or place, brings out the full potential of music and creates a sense of unity between performers and audience. Audiences at Nakasu Jazz can enjoy music while experiencing the sensation that the whole town is one live music venue.

The difficulties of running the business and the reasons for continuing

"Nakasu Jazz is run entirely by volunteers, so the organizing committee members squeeze in time between their work and family responsibilities to make the preparations and also work hard on the day itself. The passion of all the staff to make the event a success is a major driving force."

Operating funds come from donations from sponsors and merchandise sales, but the costs of the event far exceed imagination. The more lively the event, the greater the amount of preparation required, such as road closures and security for the approximately 100,000 participants. "The reason we've managed to continue holding the event even though it's getting harder every year is, above all, the smiles of the artists and audience. You can tell that everyone who participates is enjoying themselves from the bottom of their hearts, so it makes me want to do it again," Nakama said with a smile.

This year's highlights and cultural inheritance

"This year's highlight is a tribute band to the late Aki Yashiro. The band will be made up of more impressive members than ever before, and will perform in memory of Aki Yashiro, who passed away last year. She is a representative figure in the Japanese pop music industry, and her influence extends beyond the boundaries of music. I think the tribute band's performance will be a special experience for fans who love her music and all those who attend."

In addition, Nakasu Jazz will also be selling its official craft beer this year. This specially blended beer from a local brewery will surely quench the thirst of music lovers and add even more color to the event.

"If you're staying in Nakasu for sightseeing, I definitely recommend Nakasu Jazz Day! Nakasu Jazz is the most interesting jazz event in Japan," Nakama-san said, his eyes shining with passion.

"I think it's important to pass this event on to the next generation. I'd like to see young members and people in the industry participate, and I'd like to try new things."
Nakasu Jazz has had a major impact on the local area both economically and culturally. As long as artists and audiences from all over the country continue to gather there simply to enjoy music, Nakasu Jazz will continue to contribute to the revitalization of Nakasu Street.

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Nakasu JAZZ Executive Committee

 

Address: 2F Shogetsudo Building, 5-1-22 Nakasu, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City

Access: The stage will be near HOTEL RESOL TRINITY HAKATA

Website: https://nakasujazz.net/

 

*For details on business hours and holidays, please check the link above.