As the ramp-up for WMDF 007 continues, we are happy to announce our Opening Live event in June.  Come and see the four bands Chopiin, Coloridas, Kanran and Hinoki-ya over two days. Backing up the bands is the Otani Tandai Shadow Picture Circle, and our eclectic selection of food and drink booths. At the Opening Live we also announce the international group lineup for this year’s event in August. No ticket required for Elementary school students and below. Value-for-money pair tickets available for adults. Check this Japanese blog post for full details.

For those who cannot wait for the main summer event, there is our “Worlds Meet Bar” in April. This year, we are pleased to be staging our event at a new venue: Cafe & Deli Marusen. You can sample a special Marusen tasting menu, select from our collection of world beers, or try a world cocktail or two.  There will be surprise special guest performances, too. All profits of this event go towards the staging of our main WMDF festival in August. Support WMDF and have a great time too!  Details on this Japanese blog post .

We collected a group of citizen voluteers to put on a “Sekai no Kodomo”, or “Children of the World” Fetival. For this first event, three groups will participate in the festival,from Vladivostok (Russia), Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Russia) and Taipei (Taiwan). Also participating are several groups of local children performers, including drumming, singing, dance, and puppet theatre. The festival has the goal of establishing international friendships through sharing the international performing arts of children. It is an International Performing Arts Festival, where all the performers are kids!  We think you will enjoy the spectacle and atmosphere of this event. General ticket are 1,000 yen (500 yen for students). Tickets available in Hakodate City Hall and  at the Shimin-kaikan. Full details in this Japanese blog entry,