Fun for rights! Report on the same-sex wedding 'Rainbow Fest in Nanza'
kumiko
A same-sex wedding ceremony is to be held at the Minamiza theatre in Kyoto.
This is a very catchy and sensational news item. It was Saturday 1 July 2023. Less than a month had passed since the LGBT bill was passed on 16 June, and we were in the midst of a lot of discussion on the internet about the pros and cons of the bill.
'We don't want to fight for our rights. We just want to marry someone we love'.
Straightforward wishes from a cute and cheerful couple. To follow in the footsteps of how they made it come true, Choy Choy Club editor-in-chief Goto, together with new writer Egashira, took part in the ever-flamboyant wedding "Rainbow Fest in Minamiza"… Well, since the two main characters didn't "fight", I'll just say "took part", yes. I have participated!
Crowd-funded wedding execution!
The main actors of the ceremony were Kazuko Nishimura and Miho Fujikawa. Ms Nishimura is the representative of Kome Inc. and Ms Fujikawa is an entrepreneur. It all started when Ms Nishimura tweeted on Facebook that she wanted to have a wedding at Minamiza one day. These words caught the attention of the people involved, and the two's energy and ideas came together to make it a reality.
As a rule, 'weddings' do not take place at the 400-year-old Minami-za. That's when the idea of a 'festival' was born. The Rainbow Festival was organised with this in mind: 'If we're going to do it anyway, let's do it our way'.
In Kyoto, a 'partnership pledge system' will start in 2020, and Nishimura and Fujikawa have also pledged their partnership. However, as partnership is not a marriage ceremony system, there are restrictions on the rights that can be received in a heterosexual marriage. That is why, with the idea that 'everyone should be allowed to marry the person of their choice', they have sought supporters who agree with this idea through crowdfunding. During the project period, they received support as well as mindless and negative feedback. While some said that they should fight for their rights, the two chose not to fight. Two days before the deadline, the 434 supporters' wishes took shape and the target of 3 million yen was reached.
Rainbow pledge
On the day of the event, the South Theatre was very colourful. Rainbow flags and colourful participants. Among them, the two exchanged rainbow bracelets and showed their happy smiles to the attendees. In addition, the two DJ Dinosi read the congratulatory speeches on their behalf from Mayor Kadokawa of Kyoto City and Mayor Yoshimura of Tondabayashi City, who are also supporters of the event. Municipalities such as Nagaokakyo City, Muko City and Kameoka City were also named as supporters, indicating the high level of attention.
After the first part of the performance, during the changing of the costume, one of the crowdfunding returns - the right to walk along the Hanamichi (flower path) at the Minami-za theatre - was also offered. LGBTQ support groups and student groups dressed as colourful as rainbows took part in the event and strutted down the Minamiza's Hanamichi with model walks and dances. There was also a presentation of portraits to the couple.
The festival grounds overflowing with happiness
The second part of the festival opened with a live performance by the idol Fujikawa-san, who also sang.
The solo stage by Soumi Hongo, who the two say is a big fan, featured a live performance of "Do you like women? Do you like men? It doesn't matter who you like! Let's love each other! The audience was thrilled to see Mr Hongo shouting "I love you! The two also appeared on the stage at short notice, and the three of them enjoyed themselves together on stage.
DJ Dainoji's performance was joined by the two of them and many other performers. Otani-san performed a wonderful mash-up of not only their favourite songs, but also the favourite songs of Nishimura-san's family members in the audience! The two and the performers ran and jumped around the stage and flower aisles in all directions, and the audience went wild!
Towards the end of the show, letters were read from Mr Fujikawa and Mr Nishimura. The audience was filled with happiness as Mr Fujikawa was moved to tears and Ms Nishimura looked on with a kind smile.
Writer Egashira, who attended the event together with Ms Fujikawa, was also excited: "It's a festival! He was so excited. After the festival was over, she said sincerely, "I once again wished that things that are taken for granted could be taken for granted."
The 'no-fight' fight
'I found out about the festival through a crafan three months ago and immediately wanted to take part. I didn't think a festival could be held at the Minamiza, so I was very happy" (Fujikawa's fan).
Meeting someone you love is a miracle, isn't it? It's not right that you can't get married just because you're the same sex.'
'It was a great event!
I hope this event will spread further."
(Team Asami members who took part in the event)
The energetic couple danced, sang, laughed, cried and showed their faces to the fullest, making the audience happy. 'I've never thought of myself as LGBTQ,' says Fujikawa. The couple's desire to "not fight for rights" and "I love this person and want to be with them because they are this person" was conveyed to the audience in a very straightforward manner throughout the performance. Seeing these two women made me think that this is how they "fight for their rights", even though it seems like the antithesis of it. There was no concept of gender in the venue, which was filled with enthusiasm and great excitement. With the two of them enjoying themselves to the fullest, the space was definitely a space without gender borders.
The crowdfunding project page states.
Everyone is blessed to marry someone they love. We want to change a society where such things are not taken for granted and the names LGBTQ and Ally are no longer necessary. Rainbow Fest in Nanza is a festival that supports everyone who wants to live their own life.
https://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/668837
Just a fun and happy space. I felt in my heart through this festival that this is the kind of comfort society that the two of them are aiming for.
Thank you, Nishimura-san and Fujikawa-san, for an outstandingly happy time. Freedom is wonderful. Freedom is fun. I wish you all the best.
Author Profile
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Writer born and raised in Osaka and settled in Kyoto.
Compared to 20 years ago, he boasts that his tastes are now limited to alcohol and coffee.
It was more than a decade ago that I gave birth to two girls.
I'm also proud that I can still drink sake with two sleeping faces.
My life's work is to find and enjoy great scenery, food, interesting people, companies and organisations.
