Outline

Producer Comment

General Producer, Kunihiko Takahashi (Executive Officer, Tokyo International Forum)

La Folle Journée au Japon 2005. Although the event has been virtually unknown up to now in Japan, here is a music festival with a major unique feature: the audience can experience performances of classical music by world-renowned artists for the amazing price of about 1,500 yen for a performance. Whats more, the festival is a non-stop event from morning to evening, continuing for several days and featuring a new underlying theme each year. The performers and the audience form a harmonious whole in performing and listening, having many opportunities to come in close contact with each other. That is another epoch-making feature of La Folle Journée au Japon. Although the world of classical music is said to have been in a slump for many years now in Japan, it is precisely the people who usually have little opportunity to come in contact with classical music who should have a chance to attend this event. I also hope that children, as a result of attending this event, will be able to experience classical music in a way that was not possible up to now, and experience how wonderful and moving that music can be. This was the reason that the Tokyo International Forum, acting on its own accord, decided to sponsor this event, so that it could make known to people in Japan and abroad just how wonderful this musical festival it really is.
The success of this musical festival, which is being held for the first time outside of Europe, should have a major influence in broadening the base of classical music fans in Tokyo, Japan and Asia. The enthusiasm shown for the plans also has the character of an event to revitalize the local community, with participation by the district of Otemachi-Marunouchi-Yurakucho in an area extending over some 120 hectares. We are convinced that this will function as a device to attract visitors from around Japan and neighboring countries in Asia, thereby contributing to an economic wave effect and a more attractive city for us all.

Artistic Producer, Masahide Kajimoto (President of Kajimoto Concert Management Co., Ltd.)

I first met with René Martin in the summer of 2001 at a piano festival that he was sponsoring in southern France. I was fascinated by his unique ideas and, in the course of our conversation, had a gut feeling that his ideas and overall philosophy could bring a fresh breeze of something new to the world of classical music in Japan, now considered to be in a closed state.
The following year, when I visited La Folle Journée in Nantes, I realized once again how strong those feelings of mine were and came to an agreement with Rene Martin that involved a joint project with him in order to realize La Folle Journée in Japan. The Tokyo International Forum is an ideal location for staging multiple concerts simultaneously. Thanks to the wholehearted interest of President Toriumi and Executive Officer Takahashi, I am most pleased that this proposal has been accepted. I am also gratified at the very positive stance of all staff members of the Tokyo International Forum in taking on the challenge of staging this unique event. Here I see the chance that this outstanding music festival will establish itself as one of the highlights of the festival.
There are of course many ways of presenting music live. This music festival makes a clean break with the style of conventional classical music as established in Japan. I thus believe that it will carve out a new dimension in the relatively one-dimensional world of classical music in Japan. Nothing new can come to fruition without a "break" with the past. It is only when we act with our own hands to make that "break" with tradition that something new can happen. I am most pleased that we have been offered this challenge to do just that.

Iwao Toriumi, President of the Tokyo International Forum

  The Tokyo International Forum received a transfer of operations from the Tokyo International Foundation in July 2003. With the management principle of an enterprise to create emotions, it started full-fledged operations as a corporation. Located in a prime locality in central Tokyo, the Forum has developed into a facility that will soon be a center where more than 18 million people congregate every year. Since the land and facilities of the Tokyo International Forum, with a total worth of more than 400 billion yen, are a joint estate of the people of Tokyo, our ties with the local community are very important for us to operate as a corporation. The idea of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is a major pillar of operations for this corporation. It means investing in society and realizing our common existence and common prosperity.
  In January of this year 2004 I traveled myself to Nantes in France to experience La Folle Journée first hand. I also experienced the passion and interest of René Martin, the festivals planner and organizer. I encountered the passionate interest of the performers in spreading interest in classical music as well as the enthusiasm of the citizens of Nantes. I was inspired by the idea of using the medium of classical music to reproduce in Japan this wonderful emotion and pleasure that audiences can share.
  I feel it is a great honor that the French government and Mr. Martin have enthusiastically chosen the Tokyo International Forum as the site of the event in Japan. In responding to their hopes while implementing the above spirit of Corporate Social Responsibility, the Tokyo International Forum, as the sponsor of the event in Japan, will do all in its power to successfully stage a meaningful musical event. I hope we can count on your spirited support and cooperation in the coming days.

Shintaro Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo

Excerpt from the Regular Press Conference with Shintaro Ishihara, Governor of Tokyo, held on August 6, 2004(Fri.).
  La Folle Journée, which has been held every year in Nantes for the past ten years, is a classical music festival with a sterling reputation around the world. Now the Tokyo International Forum has been successful in attracting the event to Japan, where it will be staged for the first time with the subtitle Music Festival, Days of Enthusiasm.
  This music festival will stage about 150 performances over a three-day period. Tickets for individual performances will be available at the amazingly low price of about 1,500 yen, allowing many people to enjoy classical music concerts of the highest global standards in a relaxed atmosphere.
  We want to make a clean break with the traditional image of classical music as high-priced with a stern and unapproachable content, creating an event thats most easy to appreciate and thus extending the base of classical music fans. We also hope to attract many tourists and visitors to Tokyo to this event.
  We can expect a musical event without precedent that offers a fusion of culture and tourism. We anticipate that attendance will not be limited to people in Tokyo and environs, but that people will gather from all over Japan to enjoy music in this unique setting.

Outline top is here

Executive Committee is here

LA FOLLE JOUREE au JAPON - "Days of Enthusiasm” Music Festival 2005