#Japan #Sayama #Charity Concert #Sayama Tanabata #Ryota Kikuchi

Charity Piano Concert to Support Sayama's Tanabata Festival

The Sayama Iruma River Tanabata Festival, one of the three major Tanabata festivals in the Kanto region, is an event that continues to charm residents and visitors alike. This beloved festival, alongside its core attraction—the Noryo Fireworks Festival—has become a major cultural celebration attracting large crowds, making it a highlight of the city's annual events.

However, the festival faces significant challenges due to increases in security costs and the prices of setup materials, alongside the need for enhanced safety measures. These rising operational expenditures are becoming a serious obstacle to maintaining the festival’s legacy and ensuring a safe environment for attendees. To continue meeting community expectations and preserving the festival's operating system focused on safety and security, it has become essential to secure additional funding sources.

In response to these challenges, a special charity piano concert will be hosted to not only celebrate but also to help fund the festival’s future sustainability. All profits from this concert will be donated to the Sayama Iruma River Tanabata Festival Executive Committee to ensure safe operations for this cherished community event.

Event Details

• - Event Name: Sayama Iruma River Tanabata Festival Charity Piano Concert
• - Date: July 4, 2026 (Saturday)
• - Venue: Setagaya-ku Karasuyama Community Center, 6-2-19 Minami Karasuyama, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-0062
• - Access: 1 minute walk from Chitose Karasuyama Station on the Keio Line
• - Admission Fee: ¥5,500 (tax included) reserved seat
• - Ticket Purchase: Available through e-plus here
• - Official Website: Sayama Tourism Association
• - Organizer: Sayama City Tourism Association (Sayama Iruma River Tanabata Festival Executive Committee)
• - Supported by: Sayama City / Sayama Chamber of Commerce

Featured Artist

The concert will feature the talented Ryota Kikuchi, a renowned pianist, composer, and YouTube creator. Starting piano at the age of four, Ryota studied at the National University of Music before pursuing a degree at Nihon University School of Art. He has been involved in artist support and music composition since his university days, working on music for numerous TV shows, films, anime, and games.

His notable achievements include composing music for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Web commercial, which brought him into the spotlight. Ryota's YouTube channel, with over 850,000 subscribers and over 300 million views, showcases his unique piano performances. A collaboration video with May J., titled ‘When Playing Disney, an Actual Disney Singer Suddenly Appears,’ garnered over 20 million views, earning him the top spot in YouTube’s celebrities’ category.

In addition to his online presence, Ryota is an active performer, having sold out concerts at Suntory Hall in 2021 and on a UK tour in 2023. He has also participated in several major music festivals worldwide, captivating a diverse audience. With numerous awards from international music competitions under his belt, he frequently performs as a soloist with orchestras and is known for his outstanding improvisation and arrangement skills.

Looking ahead, Ryota is set to undertake an ambitious concert in November 2024, to be the first in Japan to perform all four of Gershwin's concerto works in one night. He will perform