No.13 Ai Town Inagi Citizen Festival

(Inagi Newsletter November 15, 2012 issue)

This year, the intensely hot summer has come to an end, and the autumn of harvest and sports has arrived. From October 19, 2012, the "11th Inagi City Citizen Festival" was held.
In recent years, the weather has not been favorable; the festival was canceled two years ago due to a typhoon, and last year the opening ceremony took place in heavy rain, but this year we enjoyed wonderful autumn weather for all three days, attracting many visitors.
This citizen festival has evolved from previously held events in separate locations and times for each field into a combined event. Inagi City has grown alongside the development of new towns, but there have been challenges in the interaction between new residents and those from existing areas. Therefore, while maintaining the traditions of the original events, it was planned to integrate them into a festival where citizens can gather, creating a point of contact for intergenerational, interregional, and interdisciplinary cultural exchange.
This year marks the 11th year of the festival. Last year was a milestone year, celebrating both the 10th anniversary of the festival and the 40th anniversary of the city's establishment. Along with various anniversary projects, the original character "Inagi Nashinosuke" was also born. If the past decade was one of creative development, I hope the next decade will be one of stability and establishment.
Inagi City continues to urbanize while valuing its long-standing communities. I believe the "I no Machi Inagi Citizen Festival" is one of the important events to maintain Inagi's treasure, "community strength," through the exchange of people and regions.
I am grateful that such a large event can be held with the participation of a citizen-run executive committee, and I would like to express my thanks to the many officials involved.
I hope to see many smiles again next year.