Min-On’s Kids Festa 2026 took place in four cities — Fukuoka, Ehime, Hokkaido, and Ishikawa — drawing a total of approximately 12,500 participants.
The event offered concerts introducing songs and instruments from around the world, workshops in creative arts and dance, hands-on exhibits featuring more than 30 folk instruments, and instrument-making activities, bringing together generations around a shared program.
Concerts featured local music ensembles alongside children’s wind bands, ukulele ensembles, and dance groups, as well as performances that crossed cultural boundaries: Chinese face-changing opera and erhu music, a musician from Panama, Ainu music, and the White Hand Chorus, which expresses songs through sign language. Together, these performances introduced children to a wide range of musical traditions.
Beyond watching performances, participants took part in workshops covering dance, gospel singing, ocarina, djembe and Japanese taiko drumming, and painting, exploring different forms of self-expression firsthand. Workshops also included building traditional instruments such as the South American sampoña and the Japanese shamisen using everyday materials, offering a chance to see, touch, and experience music while gaining an appreciation for cultural diversity.
This program was made possible through the generous support of Min-On’s sustaining members, to whom we extend our sincere appreciation.
