1º Festival do Choro 2026, Japan

• October 2, 2026
  Event date:
• October 4, 2026
  Event end:

What to expect in 2026

1º Festival do Choro 2026 is a new Brazil–Japan music festival dedicated to choro, one of Brazil’s most distinctive instrumental traditions. The inaugural festival brings Brazilian and Japanese musicians together across three days, using music as a cultural bridge between Brazil and Japan.

The festival’s central theme connects the Portuguese concept of “saudade,” associated with longing for a distant home or someone important, with the Japanese idea of “en,” referring to the invisible connections that bring people together. The organizers describe the festival as an opportunity for Brazilian and Japanese musicians to place these two ideas together through the sound of choro.

Rather than being a conventional large-scale outdoor music festival, 1º Festival do Choro is a multi-venue cultural music event. The programme combines a Brazilian choro masterclass, concert performances, Japanese classical-guitar perspectives, traditional choro, new commissioned music and a final concert in Kasama, Ibaraki.

The three-day programme is particularly attractive to guitarists, instrumental musicians, Brazilian music enthusiasts, classical-music listeners and anyone interested in cultural exchange between Japan and Brazil.

The festival features internationally experienced Brazilian guitarist Iuri Bittar alongside Japanese guitarists and musicians including Ken Inoi, Haruna Miyagawa, Yukari Seki, Yuki Yamasaki, Hayato Hieda and Kosuke Hashizume. The programme also includes music by major Brazilian composers and choro figures such as Radamés Gnattali, Ernesto Nazareth, Dilermando Reis, João Pernambuco, Pixinguinha, Garoto, Maurício Carrilho and Altamiro Carrilho.

The event is also significant because it introduces a newly commissioned work titled “Festival do Choro” by Japanese composer and guitarist Kosuke Hashizume, scheduled for its premiere during the main Kobe concert.

Event dates

1º Festival do Choro 2026 takes place from October 2 through October 4, 2026.

Festival period: October 2–4, 2026

The programme is divided across three days and two prefectures.

October 2: Iuri Bittar Masterclass in Kobe

October 3: Main festival concert at Chuka Kaikan Toa Hall in Kobe

October 4: Closing concert at Kasama City Iwama Regional Exchange Center “Atago” Multipurpose Hall in Kasama, Ibaraki

The opening day’s masterclass begins with doors at 12:30 and starts at 13:00. The October 3 concert opens at 12:30 and begins at 13:00. The final concert opens at 13:30 and begins at 14:00.

The original programme information notes that the final-day venue and schedule were changed following the closure of Guitar Culture Hall, with the concert moved to Kasama City Iwama Regional Exchange Center “Atago” Multipurpose Hall.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & festival site

The festival uses several specialist music and cultural venues rather than one central festival ground.

October 2 – Cielo Music Salon, Kobe

The opening masterclass is held at Cielo Music Salon in Kobe. The venue provides an intimate environment suited to the educational and listening-focused format of the day. The masterclass is limited to 30 attendees and includes Japanese interpretation.

October 3 – Chuka Kaikan Toa Hall, Kobe

The main Kobe concert takes place at Chuka Kaikan Toa Hall, 2-13 Shimoyamatedori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0011, Japan. The venue is approximately eight minutes on foot from JR/Hanshin Motomachi Station and around ten minutes from JR/Hankyu Sannomiya Station. There is no dedicated parking at the venue.

October 4 – Kasama City Iwama Regional Exchange Center “Atago” Multipurpose Hall

The closing concert takes place in Kasama, Ibaraki, at 4438-7 Shimo-go, Kasama, Ibaraki 319-0202, Japan. The venue replaces Guitar Culture Hall, which was originally associated with the final-day programme.

The multi-location format gives the festival a chamber-music character, allowing audiences to experience choro in relatively intimate concert environments rather than a large stadium setting.

Full lineup

The confirmed artists and contributors include:

• Iuri Bittar
• Ken Inoi
• Haruna Miyagawa
• Yukari Seki
• Yuki Yamasaki
• Kosuke Hashizume
• Hayato Hieda

The festival’s programme also involves selected students and musicians participating in the Iuri Bittar masterclass. Haruna Miyagawa is the specially invited student for the masterclass and is scheduled to perform together with Iuri Bittar during the main festival programme.

Iuri Bittar is the festival’s principal Brazilian guest artist. He is a guitarist specializing in choro and samba and is also active in music education.

Ken Inoi and Haruna Miyagawa represent the Japanese classical-guitar side of the festival. Miyagawa won the professional division of the 2025 Kobe Japan Guitar Competition and has continued to develop a concert career combining classical guitar with wider musical interests.

Yukari Seki participates as a flutist, adding an important instrumental voice to the choro ensemble.

Yuki Yamasaki and Kosuke Hashizume contribute to the festival’s broader guitar and composition programme, while Hayato Hieda brings expertise in seven-string guitar, Venezuelan cuatro, double bass and composition to the final-day programme.

Headliners & featured artists

Iuri Bittar is the central international guest of 1º Festival do Choro. His involvement extends beyond a conventional concert appearance because he leads the October 2 masterclass and performs during the October 3 and October 4 programmes. His role therefore connects the festival’s educational, performance and cultural-exchange elements.

Haruna Miyagawa is one of the festival’s featured Japanese musicians. She is the specially invited masterclass student and is scheduled to perform pieces studied during the masterclass as well as a duo with Iuri Bittar during the October 3 programme.

Ken Inoi is featured in the October 3 concert, where the programme presents choro from the perspective of classical guitar. His inclusion emphasizes the relationship between the Brazilian instrumental tradition and Japan’s established classical-guitar culture.

Yukari Seki brings flute into the festival’s instrumental palette, while Yuki Yamasaki contributes to the Japanese ensemble.

Kosuke Hashizume has a particularly important role as composer and guitarist. His commissioned work “Festival do Choro” receives its world premiere during the October 3 concert, providing a new Japanese contribution to the choro repertoire.

Stages & performance areas

1º Festival do Choro does not use conventional festival stages. Instead, each day has a dedicated concert or educational venue.

Masterclass venue: Cielo Music Salon, Kobe

The opening day is focused on close musical interaction. Iuri Bittar works with invited students while audiences can attend as listeners. The masterclass explores the relationship between classical musical training and traditional Brazilian choro.

Main concert venue: Chuka Kaikan Toa Hall, Kobe

The October 3 programme is the central concert of the festival. It is divided into two perspectives: choro viewed through classical music and choro as popular and traditional music.

Closing concert venue: Kasama City Iwama Regional Exchange Center “Atago”

The final performance brings the festival to Ibaraki with the theme “Alma Brasileira × Yamato Damashii,” presenting the meeting of Brazilian musical spirit and Japanese musical identity.

Stage-by-stage schedule

Because this is a multi-venue concert festival, the schedule is best understood by day and programme rather than by multiple simultaneous stages.

October 2 – Iuri Bittar Masterclass

The opening programme focuses on musical education and cultural exchange. Five student groups are planned, with approximately 50 minutes allocated to each session. The programme includes works connected to choro, classical guitar and Brazilian music, including “Escorregando,” “Rio no Caminho,” “Choros No. 1” and “Água e Vinho.”

October 3 – Two perspectives on choro

The main concert explores choro from two viewpoints. The programme combines classical-guitar interpretations with traditional choro repertoire and collaborative performances involving Iuri Bittar and Japanese musicians.

The concert includes works by Radamés Gnattali, Ernesto Nazareth, Dilermando Reis, João Pernambuco and Heitor Villa-Lobos, followed by works associated with Iuri Bittar and other composers.

October 4 – Alma Brasileira × Yamato Damashii

The closing programme focuses on the meeting between Brazilian and Japanese musical identities. The repertoire includes “Alma Brasileira,” “Escorregando,” “Brasileirinho,” “Rosa,” “Lamentos,” “Um a Zero” and other works.

Set times

The confirmed public schedules are:

October 2: Doors 12:30, masterclass begins 13:00.

October 3: Doors 12:30, concert begins 13:00.

October 4: Doors 13:30, concert begins 14:00.

The masterclass is expected to contain five student sessions of approximately 50 minutes each, although the precise running order of individual participants should be confirmed by the organizer.

The October 3 and October 4 concerts have published opening and performance times, but a minute-by-minute artist timetable has not been provided.

Visitors should therefore plan to arrive before the advertised opening time, particularly because these are seated concert venues where late entry may be restricted until an appropriate break.

Ticket types

The festival uses separate admission prices for each programme.

October 2 masterclass listening ticket: approximately $20

The official masterclass page lists the listening admission at approximately $20, with Japanese interpretation included. Capacity is limited to 30 people.

October 3 general admission: approximately $33

October 3 student admission: approximately $20

The October 3 ticket includes access to the main Kobe concert, with Japanese interpretation provided.

October 4 general admission: approximately $27

October 4 student admission: approximately $13

The final-day concert has separate general and student admission categories.

The official information also previously listed a livestream option for the final-day programme at approximately $13, although the organizer later announced that the livestream would be discontinued following the venue change. Visitors should therefore rely on the latest ticket information rather than older listings.

VIP & premium options

The festival does not currently advertise a conventional VIP package, backstage pass or premium hospitality ticket.

The event is structured around intimate concert performances and educational access rather than VIP festival infrastructure.

The closest equivalent to a premium experience is attending the Iuri Bittar masterclass. This provides a more detailed opportunity to observe how Brazilian choro is interpreted, taught and performed, including interaction between the visiting Brazilian musician and Japanese participants.

The masterclass also includes Japanese interpretation, making it accessible to Japanese-speaking audiences while retaining the Brazilian musical perspective at the center of the session.

For concert audiences, the October 3 programme is particularly significant because it includes the festival’s commissioned work premiere and a broad selection of Brazilian and Japanese musical perspectives.

Event rules

Visitors should follow the individual regulations of each venue.

Admission: Tickets are required for each paid programme, and the October 2 masterclass, October 3 concert and October 4 concert have separate admission arrangements.

Late arrival: Because the festival uses seated indoor concert environments, latecomers may need to wait for an appropriate moment before entering the performance space.

Photography: Visitors should follow venue and organizer instructions concerning photography, video and audio recording.

Mobile phones: Phones should be switched to silent mode during performances and should not disturb musicians or other audience members.

Interpretation: Japanese interpretation is included in the masterclass and the October 3 programme.

Venue change: The October 4 programme has been relocated from the originally planned Guitar Culture Hall to Kasama City Iwama Regional Exchange Center “Atago,” so visitors should check their ticket information carefully before travelling.

How to get there

The festival’s first two days take place in Kobe, making the city the main base for the opening programme.

The October 3 venue, Chuka Kaikan Toa Hall, is centrally located in Kobe and is within walking distance of major railway stations.

October 3 access: JR/Hanshin Motomachi Station is approximately eight minutes away on foot, while JR/Hankyu Sannomiya Station is approximately ten minutes away.

The final concert requires travel to Kasama City in Ibaraki Prefecture. Visitors attending the complete festival should therefore plan for an intercity journey between Kobe and the Kanto region.

Kasama can be reached by rail from the wider Tokyo and Ibaraki transport network. Visitors flying into Tokyo can use the Shinkansen and connecting local railway services, while travelers already staying in the Kansai region will need to allow considerably more time for the journey to Ibaraki.

Public transport & parking

Public transportation is the practical option for the Kobe programmes.

Kobe: The October 3 Chuka Kaikan Toa Hall has no dedicated parking. The organizer specifically directs visitors arriving by car to nearby coin-operated parking facilities.

October 2: Visitors should use local Kobe transport to reach Cielo Music Salon, with the masterclass venue information supplied by the organizer.

October 4: Visitors travelling to Kasama should use railway connections and local transport to reach Kasama City Iwama Regional Exchange Center “Atago.”

Because the festival spans two regions, visitors attending all three days may find it more practical to plan separate accommodation and transport arrangements rather than attempting to return to Kobe after the final concert.

Accommodation areas

For the Kobe portion of the festival, central Kobe is the most convenient base.

Motomachi: Particularly practical for the October 3 concert and close to major railway connections.

Sannomiya: A convenient transport hub with a large selection of hotels, restaurants and evening activities.

Kobe Harborland: Suitable for visitors combining the festival with sightseeing.

Shin-Kobe: Useful for travelers arriving or departing by Shinkansen.

For the final concert, visitors may prefer to stay in or around Kasama, Mito or other parts of Ibaraki depending on their wider itinerary.

Kasama: The most convenient option for attending the final concert.

Mito: A larger nearby city with more accommodation and transport choices.

Tokyo: Practical for visitors who plan to continue their trip in the Kanto region after the festival.

Food & drink

Food and drink are not the primary focus of 1º Festival do Choro, which is centered on music and cultural exchange.

Visitors attending the Kobe programmes can take advantage of the extensive dining options around Motomachi and Sannomiya. Kobe is particularly well known for its broad range of Japanese and international cuisine.

Useful choices before or after performances include:

• Japanese set meals
• Sushi
• Ramen
• Udon and soba
• Café dining
• Brazilian restaurants
• International cuisine
• Kobe beef restaurants
• Bakeries and dessert shops

The final concert in Kasama offers an opportunity to experience Ibaraki cuisine and local restaurants around the wider Kasama area.

Because the venues are concert halls rather than large outdoor festival grounds, visitors should not expect a major festival food-vendor programme inside the performance spaces.

Accessibility

The festival takes place in indoor cultural and music venues, which generally provides a more controlled environment than an outdoor festival.

Visitors with accessibility requirements should contact the organizer or individual venue before attending, particularly if they require wheelchair spaces, companion seating or assistance with entrances.

The October 3 venue is centrally located and accessible by public transportation, while the October 4 venue is outside central Kobe and requires additional travel planning.

Useful considerations include:

• Checking wheelchair access before purchasing
• Confirming accessible seating
• Allowing additional time for railway transfers
• Contacting the venue about elevators and accessible toilets
• Informing organizers of specific assistance requirements

The intimate nature of the festival can make advance communication particularly useful.

Best days to attend

The ideal day depends on the type of experience a visitor wants.

October 2: Best for musicians, guitar students and serious choro enthusiasts. The Iuri Bittar masterclass offers an educational perspective and a rare opportunity to observe Brazilian choro techniques in a close setting.

October 3: Best for audiences wanting the principal Kobe concert and the widest range of featured performers. The programme combines classical guitar, traditional choro, Brazilian repertoire and the world premiere of a new commissioned work.

October 4: Best for visitors interested in the Brazilian-Japanese cultural theme of “Alma Brasileira × Yamato Damashii.” The closing concert focuses on choro repertoire and the interaction between Brazilian musical tradition and Japanese performers.

For the fullest festival experience, attending all three days provides the strongest connection between the educational, concert and closing programmes.

Previous year’s highlights

Because 1º Festival do Choro is the first edition of the festival, there is no previous edition of the same festival to summarize.

Instead, the event has grown from the activities of CHORO 縁 KOBE and the organizers’ continuing efforts to develop choro culture in Kobe.

The festival’s concept was built around the relationship between Brazilian and Japanese musicians, with the organizers describing the project as the result of a small promise that eventually developed into a larger international musical collaboration.

Haruna Miyagawa’s achievements provide another important background to the 2026 programme. She won the professional division of the 2025 Kobe Japan Guitar Competition and has performed internationally, while continuing to develop her classical-guitar career.

The festival also represents an expansion of choro-related activity in Kobe. The organizers aim to use the genre’s rhythmic energy, nostalgia and colorful musical character to enrich the city’s local cultural scene.

The inaugural edition therefore serves as both a concert festival and a cultural exchange project, with Brazilian expertise meeting Japanese musicians and audiences.

Official tickets

Official tickets are available through the festival’s own ticket information and associated ticketing channels.

The official festival website provides the programme, venue information, performer details and ticket application links.

https://choro-em-kobe.jp/concert/

Location

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