Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival July 31st

The Sumidagawa Fireworks Festival (Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai) is an annual fireworks festival held on the last Saturday in July, over the Sumidagawa near Asakusa. The Sumidagawa Hanabi Taikai, like other fireworks events in Japan, is a competition held between rival pyrotechnic groups. Each group tries to out-do the last, and the result is an incredible variety of fireworks, not just in different colors and patterns, but forming complex shapes.
This is one of the major fireworks displays of Tokyo. Approximately 20,000 fireworks will light up the night sky over Asakusa.

It is a revival of celebrations held in the Edo period, and annually attracts crowds close to a million celebrants. Similar events are held at the same time of year at many other sites throughout Japan.
Date:  July 31st, 2010 (Saturday)
Time: 7:05 ～ 8:30pm
Venue No.1:  from downstream of Sakurabashi Bridge to upstream of Kototoibashi Bridge
Venue No.2:  from downstream of Komagatabashi Bridge to upstream of Umayabashi Bridge
Nearest stn:  Asakusa (Toei Line) or Kuramae (Toei Line)

9th Asagaya Bali Dance Festival on July 31 & Aug.1

Started in 2002, the Asagaya Bali Dance Festival is a newer event in the Asagaya area that presents a variety of Bali dance performances wherein over 100 Indonesian and Balinese musicians and dancers gather at the precincts of Asagaya Shinmeigu Shrine.
Date:  July 31st (Sat.) & August 1st (Sun.)
Time: 1:00 – 5:00PM
Venue: Asagaya Shinmeigu Shrine
Nearest stn: Asagaya
Free admission
For information, call 03-5370-6723

Shinjuku Eisa Matsuri on July 31st

Shinjuku East Exit Goes Okinawan!
Okinawan taiko drum and dance festival is held annually in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
More than 1,000 people from Okinawa, Shinjuku City, and neighboring areas will perform in teams.
Date:  July 31 (Saturday)
Time: 1:30 to 9 p.m. (tentative)
Free
Venue:  Shinjuku-dori Avenue, Kabukicho Cine City Plaza, and other locations
Nearest stn:  Shinjuku, east exit
For inquiries, please contact Shinjuku Eisa Festival Operation Office
Tel: 03-5428-6635 (in Japanese)
Web site: http://www.shinjuku-eisa.com/

LOS VAN VAN will warm up Tokyo night on August 3rd!

Cuban powerhouse Los Van Van will warm up the summer in Japan.
The Grammy-winning Cuban salsa band was the first to blend the native music of the Caribbean with rock, jazz and electronic instrumentation, creating a sound known as “songo”.
The legend of the Caribbean, LOS VAN VAN, will wow crowds in Japan again this summer with thrilling infectious grooves. Cuba’s No. 1 band will play four shows in Japan, including Tokyo on Aug. 3 and the 14th Isla de Salsa Borderless Music Festival in Fukuoka (Aug. 7-8), as part of a 9-date ¡Vívela! Salsa Tour in the Asia-Pacific region, with a highlight performance at Sydney´s Opera House.
Date:  August 3rd, 2010 (Saturday)
Time:  6:30pm
Ticket: ￥6,800
Venue:  Studio Coast (Shin-Kiba, Tokyo)
Tel: 03-5534-2525
Organizer:  NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano

Borderless Music Festival – Isla de Salsa Aug.7th & 8th

Borderless Music, Borderless Minds  — 14th Isla de Salsa
Cuba’s musical bullet train – LOS VAN VAN –  returns to Japan
The legend of the Caribbean will wow crowds in Japan again this summer with thrilling infectious grooves after a three-year absence.

A two-day 9-hour international music festival
More than 100 professional and local musicians and dancers performing by the beach
Yummy international food stands
Advance tickets sales started on June 1st, 2010
Dates:  August 7th (Saturday) & 8th (Sunday), 2010
Open:  12:30PM  /  Starts:  1:30PM
Venue:  Seaside Momochi, Jigyohama, next to Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk
Advance ticket:  1 day ￥4,500  /  2 days:  ￥8,500
* Junior high school students and younger-free!
* 50% discount for students (colleges, university), seniors (above 65), and disabled persons.
Organizer:  NPO Tiempo Iberoamericano
Tel: 0120-624-102 (Toll free, only outside of Fukuoka. Mobil phone no acceptable.)
Tel: 092-762-4100
Email: isla@tiempo.jp
For further information, access http://www.isla-de-salsa.jp/2010/lineup_en.html