Yesterday, we introduced one of our large dance groups new to WMDF. Today, we are really glad to welcome to this year’s event an act that is a repeater, and also holds the stage as an individual. Kateryna, WMDF has undergone many changes since we hosted you in 2010: we hope you will be impressed!

Kateryna

Kateryna was born in the town of Prypiat in Ukraine. From childhood, she was introduced to traditional Ukranian music through the indigenous instrument, the bandura. She first visited Japan as a 10-year-old. After formal studying of music in the Ukraine from the age of 16, she returned to Japan in 2008 to further the understanding of Ukranian culture.

The bandula is a traditional Ukranian instrument that combines the appearance of a harp with the frets of a guitar. The bandula used by Katerina has over 60 strings and weighs more than 8 kilos. Her performances feature Ukranian traditional music, folk songs and popular songs, as well as Japanese songs. As a veteran of 2008 and 2010 WMDFs, we are really looking forward toseeing what Kateryna thinks of the progress of our event! Check out her CDs, “Banduriste” (2008) and “Banduriste II” (2014).

www.kateryna-music.jp

Before radio was widespread, and before the television was even invented there was the circus! The 1930s USA circuses were the biggest entertainment industry in the world. WMDF’s circus is not as big the image to the right, from the U.S. national  archives. But it still is going to take some setting up. Care to help us?

Over the coming couple of weeks, there are many chances to join in. Here are the main dates:

• Wed 10 Jun: Staff meeting, from 18:00 to 21:00. Meet at Motomachi Park first at 18:00 to do some greetings around local houses. Then, the actual meeting starts at Moto-machi Kaikan  from 19:00 https://goo.gl/maps/s9YcN (first time staff OK!)
• Wed 10 Jun: Core and GIA meetings start from 15:00 and 16:00, also at the Machi-Tsukuri Centre. Observation is OK if you let us know in advance.
• Thu 11 Jun: Putting up tents in Motomachi Park. 9:00am to 17:00. We realise this is hard work, so we offer some food and some financial reward for your efforts.
• Fri 12 June: Putting up the teepee and Mongolian Geru in Motomachi Park. Again, we offer financial reward and bento box for these efforts.
• Sat 13 June & Sun 14 June: Take part as staff! The event is designed to provide staff with an easy learning curve for the main event in August. If you have an interest in being new staff in August but not so much time in June, at least come down and look at the site.
• Mon 15 June: tent takedown from 9:00 to 17:00, again with financial reward and bento boxes.
• Thu 18 June: Staff social to celebrate. 20:00pm. Venue is announced at staff meetings and on staff email, but not on these web pages.

Roll up, Roll up, all the fun of the fair!

To mark the success of this year’s event, WMDF has produced and circulated a newspaper-style report.

You can view the full text by clicking on the image below (Japanese, pdf file, 1.2M).

The main points:

• Despite the daily rain (and two typhoons), we ran for the full 6 days.
• We brought our participant country count to 42.
• We hit almost exactly our target of total 30,000 audience, despite only being able to run one stage on the final day.
• Mogu Mogu Festival booths passed 50 for the first time.
• 20 million yen turnover passed at Mogu Mogu Festival for the first time.
• The Waku Waku Festival debuted successfully, bringing yet more worlds for you to meet at our event.

The newspaper has been sent to sponsors, Mogu Mogu Festival stall representatives, and many other places around town. Many thanks to all for the continued support to keep our event growing and representing Hakodate and Japan on a world stage. We are already looking forward to next year!