In Japanese pop culture the term “idol” is typically used to refer to young stars/starlets (actors, singers, models, media personalities) who are marketed to be admired for their cuteness and innocence. Japanese talent agencies hold auditions for girls and boys with little to no prior experience in the entertainment industry and market them as idols. Idols are intended to be role models for young people and therefore are expected to maintain good public image. Many of them have a large fan following.
The Tokyo Idol Festival was founded in 2010, when the idol culture made a huge comeback and the phrase “Idol Warring Period” (Aidoru Sengoku Jidai) was coined to describe the situation in the entertainment industry. Its main goal was to promote the idol scene. Since its inception, the TIF has become the biggest idol event in Japan. For example, the 2017 festival featured more than 200 idol groups and attracted over 80,000 spectators from all over the country and abroad.
Of course, the main attraction of the Tokyo Idol Festival is its extensive line-up that features both established idols and up-and-coming performers and groups who haven’t had their big break yet. For emerging idols, the TIF is a platform where they can perform in front of a big audience and find new following. A lot of talent agencies use the Tokyo Idol Festival to promote their projects.
The festival is usually held over thee days in late July or early August. Performances take place on several open-air stages, as well as in indoor venues. Some are free, but the best concerts require tickets. There are different types of tickets available, for example, 3 day tickets for those who want to see as many performances as possible and 1 day tickets for those who are interested in a particular idol or group. Besides, the organizers host live screenings of some performances.
In 2020, the event was held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: idolfes.com
