The event, which was formerly the music festival "OTO TO TABI" held from 2011 to 2021, has been held as "Shake Concert" since 2022 after being suspended and held on a smaller scale due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will close with this year's event. So far, various musicians from all genres have performed, including Sunny Day Service, Nanao Tabito, TOWA TEI, Predawn, and Nakamura Tatsuya.

This time, we spoke to one of the organizers, Minami Shoko, about her thoughts on the event and her enthusiasm for the final episode.

"OTO TO TABI" held at Factory Hall in 2014 (Photo by YURI)

-First of all, please tell us about the history of Shake Concert so far.

Shoko Minami (hereinafter referred to as "Minami"): This event was formerly known as "OTO TO TABI," a winter music festival that was held from 2011 to 2021. While Hokkaido has many summer festivals, we started this event with the aim of creating an event that can be enjoyed in the winter.

The first event was held at JR Tower Planis Hall on the 11th floor of Esta, and was a small acoustic venue, but it gradually grew in scale, and venues such as Factory Hall and Zepp Sapporo were added. Since 2016, it has been held simultaneously at five art halls in the Art Forest, and has expanded the winter enjoyment for music lovers by incorporating winter-only productions such as a snowy stage.

The event was subsequently forced to be canceled or held on a smaller scale due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was restarted as the "Shake Concert" in 2022. The venue was also changed to the outdoor stage at the "Forest of Art" in the summer.

The scene at the Art Forest Outdoor Stage in 2022 (Photo by Asako Yohikawa)

-What made you become involved in the management?

Minami: I've been involved since the first event. At the time, I bought tickets as just a music fan, but then I saw a classmate from middle school announcing "OTO TO TABI" on mixi, and I thought, "Huh? Why are they advertising it?" and when I asked, I found out that he and his junior high school classmate were hosting it (laughs). So they asked me if I wanted to help out, and I quickly joined the management.

-It was your first time managing an event, so were you nervous?

Minami: I was involved in event planning at university, such as being on the executive committee for the school festival, but this was my first time managing a live event. However, most of the members around me were amateurs. We were all friends, lovers, and friends of lovers, and we all got together on a whim. But that didn't stop us from expressing our love for music. We only asked a professional for the sound system, but we were feeling our way through the rest. In the end, we were able to finish without any major problems, and it was a lot of fun, so we decided to continue.

The venue during the winter event in 2019 (Photo by Asako Yohikawa)

The "Shake Concert" was held in 2022, taking measures to prevent crowding (Photo by Asako Yoshikawa)

--I've heard that the coronavirus pandemic has dealt a major blow.

Minami: In the winter of 2020, the spread of infections was accelerating. Due in part to the influence of the Snow Festival, Sapporo was one of the first cities in Japan to experience a cluster outbreak, forcing us to cancel "OTO TO TABI." COVID-19 was still being treated as an unknown virus, and online news articles featured it as "the first festival to be canceled," drawing attention in an ironic way.

--So from there you decided to continue on a smaller scale.

Minami: In September, we held a live concert limited to 100 people on the rooftop of Sapporo PARCO. It was also meant as a "practice" for the next year's event. We felt it was a success, but the impact of COVID-19 lingered, and we faced a mountain of challenges, such as capacity restrictions and the possibility of the venue being closed. We gave up on holding the event in the winter when the number of infections would increase, and held "OTO TO TABI in GREEN" in the summer of 2021. Since the situation remained unpredictable after that, we decided to renew it as "Shake Concert" from 2022.

--What is the meaning behind the name "Shake Concert"?

Minami: "OTO TO TABI" emphasized a sense of the extraordinary, but "Shake Concert" is the opposite, with an awareness of "an extension of the everyday". We wanted to make it a place where people who have left the festival at a turning point in their lives can come back to with their families a few years later. We wanted to make it a festival where everyone, including the staff and performers, can "come back like salmon".

"Sake Concert" will be a free event for children to enjoy in 2023 (Photo by minaco.)

The event will take place in 2024. The decorations at the venue are also handmade (Photo by minaco.)

--This will be the last year of the event.

Minami: The only thing that has allowed me to continue up until now has been the passion for the project. But the COVID-19 pandemic has left me with a lot of debt... I even tried crowdfunding, but I didn't reach my goal and decided it would be difficult to continue.

We were originally planning to end it last year, but we received many voices saying "We want it to be held again." Encouraged by those voices, we decided to hold this year as the last festival, fitting for the milestone of the "15th anniversary." I think it's good to be able to properly announce that it's the "last," rather than "it was over before we knew it."

-What kind of event do you think it will be for the final one?

Minami: We want to preserve the essence of the "Shake Concert." The venue is peaceful and surrounded by nature, with a sloping lawn that allows a good view of the stage, and we also have a nursing room and kids' space, so even those with small children can enjoy themselves without worry.

A wide range of performers are scheduled to appear, from big names to artists living in Hokkaido. It would be great if you could experience the charm of local musicians that you don't usually have a chance to hear. We will also be selling craft beer in collaboration with "Streetlight Brewing," which is very popular every year. We think it will be a space where you can enjoy not only music, but also food, drink, and shopping.

There is also a kids' area where children can have fun. (Photo by minaco.)

--Please tell us about the main cast members.

Minami: The headliners are "Schadaraparr & STUTS". This year marks the 35th anniversary of Schadaraparr's debut, and they are holding commemorative concerts in Tokyo and Osaka. It's been a while since their last Sapporo concert, so don't miss it if you're a fan!

Other performers include hip-hop artist "KMC", female rap unit "chelmico", and Sapporo's new wave techno pop band "LAUSBUB". There are other great performers waiting in the wings, so be sure to check out their official website.

-Finally, please give a message to the readers.

Minami: Rather than being nervous because it's the last one, I just want to end the usual "Sake Concert" properly. I hope that those who haven't been able to come for a while will come back like the "salmon," and first-timers are also welcome. Let's enjoy the last "Sake Concert" together!

There will also be many food, drink and miscellaneous goods stalls! (Photo by minaco.)