Taiwan Team Heads to Japan's YOSAKOI SORAN Festival with Rock Fusion and 'Rainy Night Flower'

By Central News Agency reporter Yu Hsiao-han, Taipei, June 15

The Tourism Administration is once again organizing a Taiwan delegation, inviting National Taiwan University of Sports to participate in Japan's YOSAKOI SORAN Festival under the team name 'Taiwan Now!'. The performance blends Taiwanese rock with electronic music elements and the classic Taiwanese folk song 'Rainy Night Flower,' passionately showcasing Taiwan's local culture and festive energy to the world.

Hokkaido's 'YOSAKOI SORAN Festival,' held annually since 1992, operates on the concept of 'the street is the stage.' Performances take place at Sapporo Odori Park, Sapporo Station, and the White Lover's Factory, attracting over 2 million domestic and international tourists each year. It has become Hokkaido's largest summer festival and ranks alongside the famous 'Snow Festival' as one of the region's two major events.

The Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation today announced that it has once again organized a Taiwan delegation, inviting National Taiwan University of Sports to participate in the 35th YOSAKOI SORAN Festival in Hokkaido under the name 'Taiwan Now!'. With energetic dances full of Taiwanese cultural vibrancy, the team aims to impress the streets of Sapporo and strongly promote 'Taiwan welcomes you' to the Japanese public through on-site tourism campaigns.

The administration stated that this year's team, named 'Taiwan Now!', will perform passionate dances set to music that fuses Taiwanese rock with electronic elements and incorporates the classic Taiwanese folk song 'Rainy Night Flower,' proudly expressing the spirit of Taiwan.

Additionally, through promotional vehicles featuring Taiwan tourism ads and live TV broadcasts of the event, the message 'Taiwan Now' is being promoted, urging Japanese audiences to 'visit Taiwan—go now.'

Tourism Administration Director Chen Yu-hsiu also traveled to Sapporo to cheer on the team and promote Taiwan's diverse tourism appeal to the Japanese public.

Chen stated that Taiwan's participation in the YOSAKOI SORAN Festival fosters friendship through dance and strengthens cultural and traditional exchanges between Taiwan and Japan. She also invited the winning group of this year's festival to perform at the 2027 Taiwan Lantern Festival in Miaoli.

This year, the Tourism Administration has also set up a 'Taiwan Tourism Promotion Zone' at the Former Hokkaido Government Office, distributing travel brochures and special small gifts. Continuing its strategy of 'packaging tourism with culture,' the administration plans to participate in major festivals across Japan and launch customized tourism products for different demographics to attract more Japanese visitors to Taiwan. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150615

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