Ryogoku Bridge Art Centre & The Street Piano Sumida River festival have been held since 2017.
It is also a participatory event in the Sumida River Sumi-Yume Art Project and has been held in collaboration with Sumida-ku for seven consecutive years.
Each time it has proved popular with local residents, with many eagerly anticipating the next event.
This year organizers took on new initiatives that allowed more residents to take part. Leveraging people, places, and other local resources gained through past activities, organizers collaborated with other organizations inside and outside Sumida-ku. Furthermore, as the first steps towards creating this project with the help of local people, organizers created stage art with citizens through workshops, recruited local supporters to co-operate activities, etc. Not only does street piano stimulate communication and allow art to be demonstrated and appreciated, but also engenders exchange and interaction between people.
By including street performances and stage art handmade by local residents which increases and changes its form as time passes, organizers have managed to create an event with a celebratory feel, like a modern-day “matsuri” festival.