The Hino Kuni Matsuri (Fire Country Festival) — Kumamoto’s biggest summer festival (matsuri) — is looking for dance groups to join the centrepiece event: the Otemoyan So-Odori, a mass street dance performed to the traditional Kumamoto folk song Otemoyan. This year’s festival carries extra meaning, as 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake, and the event will be the 49th edition of the festival. The So-Odori is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, August 1, 2026, starting from 7:00 p.m. Learn more about Hino Kuni Matsuri 2026.
Any group — community organisations, businesses, schools, or other collectives — can apply. Each participating group must have between 30 and 150 members. Note that the headcount you submit at the time of application becomes your fixed number for the day; additions after the deadline are not permitted, though organisers may ask groups to adjust numbers depending on overall sign-up levels.
A briefing session for accepted groups will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. (approximately one hour) at the Kumamoto International Exchange Foundation Hall, 6th–7th floor (熊本県熊本市中央区花畑町4−18). If your group is applying, make sure to keep that date free.
How to Apply
Applications close on Friday, June 5, 2026. You can apply in two ways:
- Online: via the official LoGo Form (electronic application) linked from the festival website.
- By document: submit the completed application form and group profile by email, fax, post, or in person to the secretariat. Email attachments must be in PDF, Word (.docx), JPG, or PNG format. Phone applications are not accepted.
Contact & Enquiries
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | 火の国まつり運営委員会事務局 (Hino Kuni Matsuri Executive Committee Secretariat) |
| Address | 〒860-8601 熊本市中央区手取本町1-1（熊本市役所8Fイベント推進課内） |
| Phone | 096-328-2948 |
| Fax | 096-323-9262 |
| Application deadline | June 5, 2026 (Friday) |
Whether you’re part of a local community group, a company team, or an international residents’ association, this is a rare chance to perform in front of huge crowds at one of Kyushu’s most beloved summer celebrations. Volunteers are also wanted to help run the festival — find out more here.
Source: Kumamoto City Tourism Guide
