Crowdfunding for the “Ikaruga Music Festival” from Nara has begun! A music festival that weaves hearts together with a string orchestra, led by artistic director Yayoi Toda, winner of three major world music competitions. Aoniyoshi Music Competition Nara General Incorporated Association Press Release: September 3, 2025 Crowdfunding for the “Ikaruga Music Festival” from Nara has begun! A music festival weaving hearts with a string orchestra, led by artistic director Yayoi Toda, winner of three major world music competitions. A new “co-creation” classical music festival held in Ikaruga, a city with a World Heritage Site. A challenge to create a future together with performers, listeners, and supporters. Crowdfunding begins on CAMPFIRE on Friday, September 5th.
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established in Ikaruga Town in 2013 and has since hosted a music competition where a wide range of participants, regardless of age, career, or disability, can interact through music. The 12th
competition will be held in 2025. Past winners have gone on to perform both domestically and internationally, and the festival has grown into a locally rooted music community, attracting many aspiring young professionals and local residents. The competition’s philosophy is to bring together people who are sincerely committed to music, regardless of whether they are professional or amateur, of their generation, or their background, and to expand the circle of music. While
competitions, by their very nature, award rankings, the Ikaruga Music Festival is based on the concept of a “place for co-creation.” Ikaruga, home to World Heritage sites such as Horyuji Temple, is a special place steeped in history and culture. By hosting a music festival in this setting, we hope to promote the region’s charm both domestically and internationally, and create a new cultural hub where young musicians and amateur performers can grow and develop while performing alongside Japan’s leading performers. The purpose of this crowdfunding campaign is to expand the circle of interested parties, develop the festival into a larger scale, and secure the necessary financial foundation for continued operation. Features of the “Ikaruga Music Festival” Project 1. A Special Music Festival Featuring Yayoi Toda as Artistic Director Violinist Yayoi Toda, winner of the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition, one of the world’s three major music competitions, and currently active as an international judge and soloist, will serve as artistic director. As a music festival featuring world-class performers, we would like to work to widely publicize and raise awareness of the festival both domestically and internationally. 2. A new, co-creation-based music festival We’ve introduced a system that allows not only performers, but also music college students and amateur musicians to participate through auditions. People of all ages and backgrounds will take the stage together and form string orchestras alongside professional musicians. This “participatory music festival” will propose a new form of classical music, open to not only performers, but also audience members and supporters. 3. Set in Ikaruga, Nara, a Town Home to World Heritage Sites Ikaruga, home to World Heritage sites such as Horyuji Temple, is a special town steeped in history and culture. By setting the story in this area, we will link with tourism and local culture and widely promote the charm of the region through music. 4. Connecting with the Community and the Future Through Music In addition to hosting the music festival, we plan to hold a dedication
performance at Kasuga Taisha Shrine and conduct outreach activities at elementary schools and orphanages. We value creating opportunities for local children to experience world-class music, passing on culture to the next generation, and fostering rich hearts. 5. Challenging a Sustainable Music Festival This crowdfunding campaign is not simply about raising funds; it aims to expand the circle of interested parties and build a foundation for the festival to continue in the future. We hope to pass on this “space for co-creation” that connects the local community, amateur performers, young musicians, and world-class performers to future generations. 【”Ikaruga Music Festival” Crowdfunding Overview】 Project name The Ikaruga Music Festival Project, created with a world-class violinist! Implementation period Friday, September 5, 2025 – Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Reception desk Crowdfunding site “CAMPFIRE”
https://camp-fire.jp/projects/850643 Target amount 500,000 yen Return gift In addition to concert invitations and your name being featured in the program, we will also be offering festival-themed gifts, such as local specialties from Ikaruga, Nara, and limited-edition merchandise. For more details, please visit the project page. Implementation Method This project will be implemented as an all-in project. Even if the target amount is not reached, we will carry out the plan and deliver rewards. Other We will use your donations carefully for the following purposes. – Costs of hosting the Ikaruga Music Festival (venue fees, performers’ honorariums and transportation costs, public relations costs, etc.) – Costs of producing programs, pamphlets, etc. *Donations will be used solely for the costs of hosting the event and for business activities and will not be donated directly to third parties. In the future, if we donate a portion of the festival’s proceeds to a local child welfare facility we will report this in our activity report after reaching agreement with the recipient and completing the necessary procedures. Introducing some of the rewards The Ikaruga Music Festival has prepared the following rewards to express our gratitude to all those who support us. Ikaruga Music Festival Invitation Ticket You’ll be invited to a special performance by a string orchestra made up of world-class performers, professionals selected through auditions, music college students, and amateur players. CD autographed by Yayoi Toda handwritten thank-you message A CD autographed by Artistic Director Yayoi Toda and a handwritten message for those who have supported the festival. You may choose one CD, which will be handed out at the reception on the day of the concert. Right to watch the rehearsal on the day of the festival A special experience where you can witness professional musicians layering sounds. Experience the festival from a different perspective than the audience seats. The venue is Ikaruga Hall Small Hall. More details will be announced by email at a later date. Invitation to a post-performance social gathering for related parties You will be invited to a social gathering where you can interact directly with the performers and the management team. The venue will be the Ikaruga Hall Training Room. More details will be provided via email at a later date. Names in Programs and Brochures Your names will be included in the official program, leaving a lasting testament to your support. Nara and Ikaruga Specialties We offer famous sweets and other local products so you can experience the charm of the region.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/114927/4/114927-4-eea15e8ab8b0b9a6c5e0b74a4a2d86b2-1494×1496.png In addition, we offer a variety of rewards depending on the amount of your pledge. For more details, please visit the CAMPFIRE project page. [Ikaruga Music Festival Event Overview] The project will promote exchanges and support for young musicians, focusing on string orchestra performances by musicians active in Japan and abroad, along with music college students and amateur musicians selected through a public audition. Outreach activities at elementary schools and orphanages are also planned. Date: Friday, October 17, 2025 Venue: Ikaruga Hall Small Hall (6-43 Okidome 10-chome, Ikaruga-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara Prefecture) Organizer: Aoniyoshi Music Competition Nara General Incorporated Association Artistic Director: Yayoi Toda (Violinist) For more information about the Ikaruga Music Festival, please visit: https://aoniyoshimc.com/ikaruga_musicfestival Comment from Violinist Yayoi Toda, Artistic Director of the Ikaruga Music Festival Ikaruga Town in Nara Prefecture is a pinnacle of historical culture and a World Heritage Site that Japan is proud of, with sites such as Prince Shotoku, Horyuji Temple, Horinji Temple, and Hokiji Temple. Starting the Ikaruga Music Festival here makes me feel proud and humbled as a Japanese person. I hope that through music, we can send a message of vision from Ikaruga to the world. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, when I spend time in the tranquility of Ikaruga, I feel the joy of music in my heart, as well as the wonder of being alive in the present, hope for peace that connects Japan to the world, and gratitude. This is human connection, the very essence of soul, that transcends the historical and cultural differences between Japan and the West. Together with everyone in Ikaruga, we performers can feel the human feelings and spirituality of composers, who are a world heritage of musical art, hear their heartfelt prayers in each and every tone and in the various aspects of that sound, and empathize with their thoughts. This is a blessing and a treasure in life. I hope the Ikaruga Music Festival will become a true festival of the heart. It is my sincere hope that the Ikaruga Music Festival will continue to grow with your support in the future.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/114927/4/114927-4-ad452642de1f86692d059dbd7ab13a24-1500×2123.jpg Profile Graduated with honors from Toho Gakuen School of Music, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Sweelinck Conservatory of Music, New York Studied at the Juilliard School. Winner of the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition. Jury member for the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition and the Bartok International Competition. Violinist. Comment from Tomoko Okutani, Representative Director of Aoniyoshi Music Competition Nara General Incorporated Association, Organizer of the Ikaruga Music Festival Through our ongoing music competitions in Ikaruga, we’ve met many musicians, contestants, and local residents, and have come to realize that music has the power to connect people’s hearts and illuminate the future. Ikaruga is a beautiful city that preserves its ancient history and culture. We want to spread the circle of music from this place to the world. Through music, we hope to foster kindness and rich hearts and envision a future where people resonate with each other. Perhaps this will be the first step toward world peace. Your crowdfunding donations will be used to support the performers’ activities and operating expenses, and will be an important part of building the foundation of the music festival. Continuing these efforts is meaningful in order to nurture the hearts of children who will lead the future and to foster young musicians. We hope this initiative will inspire someone’s dreams and hopes. We sincerely look forward to your warm support. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/114927/4/114927-4-2fdc33817f3ef8e01807f82885c9d1c6-1800×2700.jpg About the Aoniyoshi Music Competition Nara General Incorporated Association
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/114927/4/114927-4-e27f2571d5a52380f721fad69b3f4528-1200×630.png The Aoniyoshi Music Competition Nara General Incorporated Association was founded in Ikaruga, Nara in 2013, based on the belief that “music transcends all boundaries, connects people’s hearts, and contributes to world peace.” The Aoniyoshi Music Competition, which provides a platform for professionals and amateurs of all ages to challenge themselves and perform, will celebrate its 12th anniversary in 2025. In addition to running the competition, the association has engaged in a wide range of performance activities, including a dedication concert at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, concerts with members of the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra, ensemble courses for pianists, and solo and joint recitals. Furthermore, the association continues its community-based “Forest Concert” and will launch the new “Ikaruga Music Festival” in 2025. We are expanding our activities with two pillars: nurturing young musicians and promoting local culture. Organization Name: Aoniyoshi Music Competition Nara General Incorporated Association Location: Ikaruga-cho, Ikoma-gun, Nara Prefecture Representative: Representative Director Tomoko Okutani Established: 2013 Official Website: https://aoniyoshimc.com
