The Sports Festival in which diverse people participate in their own specialties.

A field day in Japan is an event where people of all ages gather to not only participate in competitions, but also to enjoy watching, eating lunch, and cheering for the athletes. The “Daichi no Undokai” invites many people from overseas to participate in this kind of Japanese field day, and we aim to make the event more diverse and varied by inviting artists, musicians, and non-professionals to showcase their specialties. We are also looking for participants in music and making things, so please see below for more details.

■ Programme for Saturday 7 September 2024 (tbc)

11:00～　Opening Parade, Opening Ceremony, Warm-up Exercises
11:30～12:30　Three Events, including Ball Toss and Onigiri Rolling
12:30～13:30　Lunch break (Onigiri)
13:30～14:30　Three Events, including Relay Race and Tug-of-War
14:30～14:45　Closing Ceremony　

*Please note that the events are currently being planned and may be subject to change.
*In case of severe weather (heavy rain, typhoon, lightning), the event will be cancelled. A notice will be posted on this page at 6:00 AM on the day of the event.
*In case of rain, the event will proceed outdoors.
*No refunds will be issued in the event of cancellation.
*Meeting times and locations will vary depending on how you participate.Please see below for details.
*Please wear comfortable clothes (including protection against the heat) on the day of the event. Also, please bring your own musical instruments and toys (toys are also acceptable) if possible so that you can participate in the cheering and musical performance.

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《How to participate》

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1) Participate in the "Echigo-Tsumari Art Field Day" (7 Sep only)

• 【Capacity】75 (first-come, first-served)
• 【Fee】Adults JPY1,500, Primary and Junior High School students JPY1,000, Preschool children JPY500
  （Fees include participation, insurance, and rice ball set)
• 【Meeting place/Registration time 】
  By car: 9:30-10:00 Tokamachi City Matsudai Branch Office parking lot (3252-1 Matsudai, Tokamachi City, Niigata 942-1526)
  By train: 9:30-10:15, Matsudai Station West Exit Rotary
  *Please register and take the shuttle bus to NUNAGAWA Campus. Please DO  NOT go directly to NUNAGAWA Campus.
  *If you can come directly to NUNAGAWA Campus on foot or other means other than driving, please indicate so on the application form.
• 【How to apply】
   On-line： Peatix 
  ⇒*Registration has been closed due to reaching the maximum number of participants. Please note that this event requires advance registration and cannot be attended on the day of the event. (As of September 2, 2024)
  
• 【Clothing/belongings】
  Please wear comfortable clothes (including protection against the heat) on the day of the event. Also, please bring your own musical instruments and toys (toys are also acceptable) if possible so that you can participate in the cheering and musical performance.

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2) Participate in the Music Program

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2) Participate in the Handcraft Program

Participate in the sports day of Integrated Arts by making things!
We will hold workshops to make flags to decorate the field day. We will also accept flags from those who are not able to participate in the workshop or the field day. If you make your own flags at home, please send them to us or bring them on the day of the event.

■Flag making workshop in Echigo-Tsumari

■Flag making in your home (Mail or bring your own)

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Why Earth Sports Festival?

We are pleased to announce that on Saturday 7 September, the “Earth Sports Festival” will be held as part of the 9th iteration of Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale. This event will be a highlight of the art festival, bringing together a diverse array of participants, including local residents, children, supporters, artists, and people from different nationalities, regions, generations, and genres.

The Sports Festival (or “undookai”), a unique Japanese tradition, involves not only schoolchildren and their parents but also local elders, preschoolers, and everyone in the community. It features competitive events such as tug-of-war and ball-toss games, cheering contests, music performances during the breaks, spirited announcements to encourage the participants, colourful scoreboards, a picnic atmosphere with lunchboxes in the spectator area, and a relay race with representatives from different generations.

The Earth Sports Festival promises to be a unique event engaging all five senses, showcasing the essence of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale through a blend of sports, dance, music, art, and culinary delights. It will also serve as a grand gathering for foreign workers and refugees living in Japan, their supporters, economically disadvantaged children, disaster survivors, people with disabilities and their caregivers, local residents, and supporters.

The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, founded on the principle that “human beings are part of nature” is a project that has explored the relationship between people and nature for over a quarter of a century. The fact that 8 billion individuals live simultaneously on this planet is the precious reality we consider the essence of art. Every place is the centre of the world, and it is this philosophy that allows communities to shine—this is the motto of the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale.

We invite you to join us for the Earth Sports Festival, where people from different backgrounds can spend a joyous day together, getting to know each other and forming closer bonds. Come and be a part of this diverse and collaborative celebration.

Kitagawa Fram
(General Director, Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale)