In Shimotsui, in the Kojima area, a new space called “Shimotsui Yokocho” has opened, where people from Shimotsui and other areas join forces to take on challenges in Shimotsui.
To celebrate the opening, an event was held at Shimotsui Yokocho, bringing together the delicious food and music of this port town. I went along to take part.
This article reports on what the yokocho was like that day.
The information presented was current when this article was published in April 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Shimotsui Yokocho
Shimotsui Yokocho is a space that opened in Shimotsui, Kurashiki City, where people from Shimotsui and other areas can make use of the area's advantages to take on challenges in Shimotsui. Sunday, March 24, 2024, was the opening event.
The event ran from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with breaks along the way.
For details of the day's program, see the image below.
A bustling day despite the rain
Unfortunately, it rained on the day of the opening event.
However, Shimotsui Yokocho has a roof, so the rain was no problem.
I arrived at the venue just as the opening event was about to begin, and the crowds were already evident from the activity in front of the shops.
It was still a chilly spring day, but the yokocho was filled with excitement.
Some visitors were shopping while items were still available, while others were excited to reunite with familiar faces… Everyone was enjoying their time in their own way.
Music Stage
The first highlight of the opening event was the music stage.
Opening Stage and Drum Performance: Onore
The event began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a drum performance by “Drum Performance Onore.”
The powerful drumming by the children reverberated throughout the body. It was a splendid performance, fitting for a new beginning.
Shimotsui Hanadoji
Next, “Shimotsui Hanadoji” performed a dance.
The Hanadoji dancers moved gracefully to the voice of YUKARI Tsumoto, who has won the national Shimotsui-bushi contest. Their beautiful performance was captivating.
KS+ Rhythm Dance Exercise Class
Both the drum performance and Hanadoji featured children, and the next performance by the “KS+ Rhythm Dance Exercise Class” also put children in the spotlight.
Shimotsui is a town along the Seto Inland Sea. The children danced energetically to the Setouchi-inspired song “Setouchi Uocching,” as well as to dances they practice in their regular classes.
Shamisen by Morimoto Kazumasa
From here on, the performers were adults.
First was a shamisen performance by Morimoto Kazumasa. That day, he performed both Okinawan sanshin and Tsugaru shamisen.
The delicate sounds of the strings brought a calm to the once-bustling venue.
KATH with Yamamoto Shuma
The music stage concluded with a jazz performance by “KATH with Yamamoto Shuma.”
The band has many fans, including one audience member who said, “I came to Shimotsui to hear KATH perform.”
The band’s harmony was wonderful, and the individual solos were also a treat to watch. Not only the audience but also the food vendors were so captivated that they stopped what they were doing to listen.
Eat and Shop
The “Eat and Shop” offerings were also a great success.
There were always people lined up for dried goods from Yoshimata Shoten, the initiator of Shimotsui Yokocho, fried foods made with seafood from Kushidamaru, and taiyaki wrapped in seaweed from Miyake-kun.
Since the music stage continued throughout the opening event, it was great to have so many foods you could enjoy while walking around.
Of course, there were also takeout items.
A place where you can look the people who make the products in the face and say “thank you” to them directly is valuable for both consumers and producers.
Since it was raining that day, you could take your food home and eat it there, or bring your takeout items to the rest area and enjoy them like hors d'oeuvres.
Shimotsui Yokocho is set to become a space like a lively open-air market, where a variety of shops gather every weekend.
That day, when customers asked for items that had already sold out, shopkeepers called out, “We’ll bring some on [date] next time.” It’s exciting to see what’s ahead.
7th Shimotsui Sakaba
In the evening, the 7th Shimotsui Sakaba was held at Shimotsui Yokocho.
Shimotsui Sakaba is a bar where people connect over drinks, music, and conversation, hosted by Kurashiki City Community Revitalization Cooperator Sakura Nakatomi and Yukari Tsumoto, who was mentioned earlier as a winner of the National Shimotsui-bushi Contest.
The venue was filled with local Kurashiki sake and delicious foods from Shimotsui.
After paying the admission fee at the entrance, you could enjoy all-you-can-eat and drink inside the venue. Regulars and first-time visitors alike had a great time, calling out to one another, “Let’s sit together” and “This is delicious.”
A karaoke contest was also held from the middle to the end of the event. Adults and children alike took turns performing their signature songs.
And of course, the finale was “Yozakura Oshichi,” performed by Yoshie Yoden, the founder of Shimotsui Yokocho.
As Yoden sang with passion, Nakatomi and others showered the crowd with handmade cherry blossom petals, bringing the event to a rousing close.
The next, 8th Shimotsui Sakaba, is scheduled to be held on Friday, May 3, 2024 (a national holiday).
From the Writer
From morning until night, Shimotsui Yokocho stayed lively, with customers coming and going without a break.
It was a hugely successful day that gave us a clear picture of what Shimotsui Yokocho will be like in the future.
We look forward to seeing Shimotsui Yokocho continue to grow.
The fresh fish section and Yoshimata Shoten will be open on weekdays, too, and on weekends the space will bring together shops looking to give it a try, like a lively open-air market. If you’re looking for an outing where you can experience the warm-hearted spirit of Shimotsui, why not visit Shimotsui Yokocho?
Shimotsui Yokocho Opening Event Information
| Name | Shimotsui Yokocho Opening Event |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, March 24, 2024, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. |
| Location | 1-9-12 Shimotsui, Kurashiki City |
| Admission (tax included) | Free (food and drinks available for purchase at each shop) Shimotsui Sakaba (people drinking alcohol: ¥4,500; people not drinking alcohol: ¥3,000) |
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