The second-ever LGBT parade in Kyushu is happening on Nov. 22 (Sun.), as part of Kyushu Rainbow Pride 2015! The parade will start and finish at Reisen Park. Like last year, the parade promises to celebrate diversity and offer the LGBT community a rare opportunity to express themselves openly. We asked this year’s organizers to give us the low-down…
How many participants are you expecting this year?
5,000 are expected to attend the event, but the parade is limited to 300.
How can we sign up for the parade?
Pre-register on our website or try your luck on the day.
Are there any dos and don’ts?
• Don’t drink alcohol during the parade.
• Don’t get too rowdy or hyper – we want everyone to have fun, but not at the expense of anyone else!
• Don’t leave/join the parade halfway through.
• Don’t expect too much English assistance. Best to come with someone who speaks Japanese.
• Do bring sunglasses or a mask if you don’t want your face to appear on any media (we’re expecting a lot of coverage).
What happens if it rains?
The show must go on, come rain or shine!
What’s new this year?
Last year’s event was focused on students. This year we’ve gone community-wide, with more sponsors and companies participating. We want to raise greater awareness than ever before!
What else is there to see and do?
We’ve got a great line-up of LGBT stage performances, and we’ll celebrate a public wedding between a female-to-male transsexual and a straight woman. Plus, LGBT organizations & support groups will host booths, as well as many food & drink companies. There’ll also be an official after-party (details on the Fukuoka Now website)!
What should I bring?
Feel free to bring a banner or message board with you to make your voice heard! (No offensive/antisocial content, please.)
What food and drink will there be?
Hennessy will be offering Hennessy Tea (Hennessy & iced tea) and highballs. With the Style will be serving up spicy chicken. And Tsukushi (a popular mugi shochu brand from Fukuoka) will also be available. Other foods on offer include yakitori, karaage, clam chowder, minestrone soup, curry, and potato chips. There’ll also be plenty of hot wine, hot ginger tea, hot cocoa, and other toasty beverages.
What other booths will there be?
Softbank will host a stall offering a family plan for homosexual couples (ID required). An openly gay financial planner will be offering consultations to members of the LGBT community. Gomi Konton will be selling rainbow-themed products. There’ll also be a kids’ play area, so feel free to bring your little ones!
Is there a dress code?
There’s no dress code (just make sure to stay warm!), but people are welcome to come dressed in costumes!
What stage performances will there be?
Nijigumi Fights (a gay idol group, http://nijigumifights.wix.com/index) and KI-YO (openly gay musician from Tokyo, http://g-glamour.com/kiyo/) will be giving performances. And hibikiko (a musician from Fukuoka) will be rounding off the celebrations (http://ameblo.jp/hibikiko/). There will also be various dance performances throughout the day.
Will there be an after-party?
Yes! There will be sets by guest and resident DJs and special performances. More details here.
Parade route map:
We will publish the parade route as soon as it becomes available.
Kyushu Rainbow Pride 2015
• 11/22 (Sun.)
• 10:00~17:00
• Parade: 14:00~
• Start/Finish: Reisen Park (7 Kamikawabatamachi, Hakata-ku)
• Free
• http://qrp8lgbt.wix.com/qpr4lgbt
Read Fukuoka Now’s full report from the 2014 parade (including lots of great photos)!
Originally published in Fukuoka Now Magazine (fn203, Nov. 2015)
