Tokyo Design Festa draws in creative types

(Design Festa)

Design Festa is marking its 17th anniversary this year and in all that time its very simple philosophy has not changed at all. It's still the place for anyone who feels "I want to express myself!"

The upcoming two-day event is expected to attract more than 60,000 people to the Tokyo Big Sight convention center and organizers are also anticipating a solid turn-out among creative types.

"We are anticipating around 8,500 artists, which is more than last year," event spokesman Takeshi Araki told Relaxnews. That figure is a couple hundred better than last year's event, which is impressive given the natural disasters that have struck Japan this year and the ongoing problems at the Fukushima nuclear reactor, north of Tokyo.

"The event is open to anyone who wants to show off their original works of art or to express themselves, regardless of their age, genre or nationality," said Araki.

The event encompasses everything from live performances of theater, music, mime and dance to the live creation of works of art, fashion, technology and design in every conceivable form.

One area of the arena is being set aside for works of art that are best admired in dimmed lighting, while the festa will also feature a charity postcard exhibition.

Organizers said that they hope the coming together of numerous creative minds will further boost artistic endeavors.

Design Festa
May 14-15
Tokyo Big Sight
www.bigsight.jp/english/

Tickets: Y1,500 (€12.38) for two days or Y800 (€6.60) for one day in advance, but Y1,800 (€14.85) and Y1,000 (€8.25) on the door.

Further information: www.designfesta.com or +81 3 3479 1433

JR