2020 is a year full of closed doors.

Shops, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, shopping malls, parks, beaches, and even hospitals at times have been forced shut by the savagery of COVID-19. At times, even our own personal doors have been shut to the outside world.

It comes as no surprise then that Japan’s largest rock festival, Fuji Rock Festival has postponed this year's event in favor for next year.

The music festival which drew in around 130,000 attendees last year announced a statement regarding the updated decision earlier this week.

Fans enjoying a performance at Fuji Rock Festival’s Green Stage. Photo by Tokyo Times | CC by SA 2.0

The statement begins, “Taking into consideration the health and welfare of all involved with Fuji Rock Festival and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are abandoning this year’s festival which was scheduled for August 21st , 22nd and 23rd and postponing until August of 2021.”

Organisers then go on to admit that the reasoning behind their relatively late decision and their continuing of event preparations, was that they had hoped that the virus would have eased off by the summertime. The statement includes an apology for the delayed update.

They acknowledge that although Japan’s State of Emergency has been lifted, the situation across the world has not improved, strict immigration regulations have been put in place, and that the health and safety of both their patrons and staff is of absolute importance.

As for this year's event, ticket holders will be able to get a full refund or can use the tickets for next year's festival for which they will be valid. An update regarding the details of ticket refunds is expected to be announced soon.

Fuji Rock Festival is a multi day event that usually involves camping. Photo by Kentaro Ohno | CC by 2.0

In addition to the statement announced by the organisers of the festival, the president of the corporation behind the event, Masahiro Hidaka, shared a message of his own regarding the decision, explaining “We discussed postponing the festival for several months but Naeba gets quite cold in the morning and evenings in September and begins to snow at the beginning of November with the snow remaining until April. It is a ski resort after all. Not to imitate the Olympics but we are postponing the festival until August of next year. The festival will be held on August 20th, 21st, and 22nd. That is 14 months from now. It’s frustrating but I want you all to look forward to it.”

FUJI ROCK will return to the stage at Naeba Ski Resort on August 20th, 21st and 22nd, 2021. The organisers of the festival are working on bringing the festival back next year with a new sense of energy.


By - Connie Sceaphierde.