High school culture groups converge on Tokyo for festival

The 46th All Japan Senior High School Cultural Festival, an annual feast of culture served up by students from high schools across the country, kicked off in Tokyo on Sunday.

For five days until Thursday, the students will engage in performances in 23 fields, including chorus, local performing arts and oration. Tokyo is this year’s host city for the festival, which takes place in a different prefecture every year. The organizers include the Cultural Affairs Agency, the All Japan Senior High School Cultural Federation and the Tokyo metropolitan government. Special support is provided by The Yomiuri Shimbun.

The opening ceremony, held Sunday in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, featured a musical performed by Tokyo high school students. The script expressed the worries of students having to spend their high school days amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The student cast showed lively dancing and acting.

The ceremony was attended by Crown Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Kako and their son, Prince Hisahito.

“I hope you will have close exchanges with each other and expand your circle of friends, while also fully paying attention to measures against infectious diseases,” Crown Prince Akishino said.