They also performed as a band on their first outdoor stage.
Misaki-cho Area Management (Representative: Kazuki Nakagawa) will hold the "2026 Misaki-cho Sake Festival" from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM on November 8th on the road in front of Ishigaki Island Hotel Kukuru and Ishigaki Island Village. This year, for the first time, a stage will be set up at the venue, and local amateur bands will perform. The event will proceed rain or shine, but will be canceled in case of severe weather.
The festival was planned to revitalize Misaki-cho, a town that is bustling at night but tends to be quiet during the day. This year, the third time the festival has been held, it will be an outdoor version of "Utawa Night," an event held monthly by the town's live music venue, "City Jack." Three to four bands selected by the organizers from those that frequently perform at the event will take part.
The stage will be set up next to the bus terminal on the west side. Following the opening ceremony at noon, there will be performances of band music, Eisa dance, and other dances. There will be 21 stalls, an increase from last year. Of these, eight are sake breweries, the highest number ever. To encourage people to enjoy local sake, only alcohol made with local sake will be served at the venue.
The venue will be smaller than last year, with a more compact layout of shops. There will also be inflatable play equipment for children. More than 50 companies are sponsoring the event, and fans bearing the names of the sponsoring companies will be distributed at the venue on the day of the event. Last year's attendance was approximately 2,000 people, and this year the goal is to exceed that number.
Chairman Satoshi Ishigaki said, "We want this to be a festival where people can enjoy Ishigaki's performing arts, including sake, music, dancing, bands, and traditional arts. Please come and enjoy Ishigaki's sake and performing arts."
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Excerpt from Yaeyama Mainichi Shimbun