Join MATSURI CROSSING, a new festival in Kyoto

Matsuri Crossing KYOTO×BRASIL will take over the grand entrance of Higashi Honganji Temple near Kyoto Station from Friday, November 6 to Sunday, November 8, 2026, ahead of the 2028 landmark 120th anniversary of the first Japanese person to immigrate to Brazil. This event brings Japan’s rich heritage and Brazil’s dynamic rhythms together in an unforgettable celebration of culture and community.

Why celebrate Brazil at a historic Kyoto temple? Honganji’s current head priest, Choyu Otani, moved to Brazil when he was one year old and holds Brazilian nationality. After nearly six decades there, and after dedicating his life to sharing traditional Japanese Buddhism in a different cultural landscape, Otani hopes to help create a peaceful society rooted in mutual recognition, diversity, and shared harmony. His unique life journey is the heartbeat of this festival.

On the main stage, you will enjoy a rich lineup of events celebrating both cultures: from Nanase Aikawa, a leading pioneer who achieved great success with “MATSURI DANCE”—an art form uniquely developed in Brazil through the fusion of Japanese Bon Odori and J-pop—to Brazilian music and dance performances, screenings of an anime film themed on Japanese immigration to Brazil, sweets that blend Brazilian açaí with Japanese wagashi, and Brazilian cocktails made with Japanese sake. We invite you to visit and experience the vibrant energy of a new Kyoto, along with another side of Japanese history that remains little known in this historic city.

Main Stage (Paid)

Sat. 7th 6:30 pm Start, Sun. 8th 6:00 pm Start

Performers

Nanase Aikawa

Nanase Aikawa is a pop star who produced numerous hits in Japan during the 90s. Her signature song, “Yumemiru Shoujo ja Irarenai,” inspired Brazil’s MATSURI DANCE movement and became immensely popular. She has also served as a Japan-Brazil Friendship and Goodwill Ambassador, performing at the Matsuri Dance Festival in São Paulo and bridging the cultures of both countries.

Nailson Vieira TRIO

Nailson Vieira carries forward the culture of “Maracatu Rural,” an art form fostered by sugarcane plantation workers, and shares Brazilian iconic folk culture with the world by translating it into contemporary music. This time, he performs in a trio format alongside Homero Basílio (percussion) and Chiquinho Moreira (synthesizer).

Wolf Howl Harmony

Wolf Howl Harmony’s GHEE has roots in Brazil, so the country holds a special connection for the group. This past July, they made their first appearance at “Anime Friends 2026,” South America’s largest Japanese pop culture event in São Paulo, Brazil, which drew approximately 230,000 visitors over four days.

Free Stage

Artists based mainly in Kyoto and Kansai will present a colorful mix of Brazilian music and dance at “Ohigashi-san Square” in front of Higashi Honganji Temple. Brazilian percussion bands will lead parades, and visitors can experience cultures from across Brazil, including Samba, Forró, and Capoeira, alongside traditional Japanese ondo folk songs and a range of musical expressions. Visitors can also join “Matsuri Dance Time,” and musicians and audiences can form a circle at “EN RODA,” a participatory music booth, to enjoy the music together. The event will also offer plenty of fun interactive events and workshops.

Event Details