Japan’s annual five-day-long Rock in Japan Fes 2023 took place on August 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13, with a myriad of Japanese music acts both soft and hard. It’s understandable that fans would be excited for a music festival on such a large scale, especially now that the restrictions on audiences moving around, shouting, or cheering during shows that were in place for much of the coronavirus pandemic have been lifted.
But some fans went a little too far when their mosh circles on August 6 resulted in four attendees fracturing their ribs. People both in and out of the pit were injured, organizers reported, and despite festival staff efforts to expel fans responsible for starting the pits or causing injuries, more injuries were reported. An official statement from the organizers condemning the turn of events, posted on the Rock in Japan Fes. official website, says:
“To be honest, it takes a lot of effort to stop a circle pit, and even more to expel people from the festival. We need to allocate a lot of staff to do so, and it’s hard on them. It also costs us financially. We do all this for the sake of everyone’s safety and well-being.
Rock in Japan is proudly one of Japan’s biggest music festivals. There are many fans that are used to attending festivals, but there are also a lot of first-timers. That’s the type of environment that’s most dangerous for circle pits. Despite our repeated efforts to discourage circle pits, they happened anyway and resulted in four people fracturing their ribs.”
The specific acts during which the circle pits occurred weren’t named, but it was reported that there were multiple occurrences. It’s also worth noting that while the festival is called Rock in Japan, not all of the acts are considered rock music; it’s understandable that there would be many in the audience not accustomed to mosh pits.
Japanese netizens reacted to the official announcement with their own thoughts and observations:
“Is this a special case, or does this happen every year and they only decided to announce [the injuries] this year? I see a lot of moshing at other Japanese music festivals, so I’d expect it happens there, too.”
“I’d understand if the fractures happened in the mosh pit, but I do think there are some people that take the pits a bit too far. They suck more people into the pit and do things like flail their arms around and kick.”
“Those are some pretty serious injuries even for a festival. If I’m being honest, I think they let off the offenders too easily by simply kicking them out.”
No mosh-related follow-up statement was posted by the organizers after the first, so it seems the warning may have had its intended effect. Next year’s festival will last 10 days, though, so fans had better be ready to follow the rules–or at least prepare for the worst.
Sources: Rock in Japan Fes. via My Game News Flash
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- https://soranews24.com/2023/08/22/japanese-rock-festival-cracks-down-on-mosh-pits-after-multiple-fans-injured/
19 Comments
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Jolyon
Mosh pits?
Yubaru
Lol! I wonder in what "inaka" you have been living in! The term, and reality, is that "Mosh Pits" have been around since the 80's!
bass4funk
What’s the purpose of going to a concert or rave and not even have a “mosh pit?”
AlternativeOpinion
Mosh pits are for metal music exclusively. Doing them for other acts is a little lame.
CaptDingleheimer
I'm beyond my moshing years, but this rubs me the wrong way. You can't have a metal or hardcore show and not allow a mosh pit. A bruised rib? Boo hoo. Instead of crying to the event organizers, maybe you should keep your sensitive ass out of the mosh pit.
Mark
A friend of mine goes there every year with her husband friends, they tell me it was pleasant, it was hot, very peaceful no problem at all but that was before the Pandemic, 2023 fest. may have been a little different due to the lockdown and restrictions !!? people act funny after a lockdown they say.
Yubaru
Yup! This here!
Strangerland
I've been in a number of mosh pits in Japan. I found them to be fine, and generally not very aggressive.
Reginald Bok
Mosh pits here are a bit lame.
fatrainfallingintheforest
Did they cry about it, or were injuries simply reported? I don't know about reporting requirements for injuries during work, events etc, so perhaps the organisers were simply responding to such reports.
Also, "People both in and out of the pit were injured, organizers reported, and despite festival staff efforts to expel fans responsible for starting the pits or causing injuries, more injuries were reported." My favourite spot at concerts was always just behind the pit because there was usually a good view, and I occasionally had to dodge an occasional swinging limb or try to catch people flung out of it.
Abbey
We are in Japan ! Dont need to be doing those pits !
Uchujin
Yes, and you just assume that everybody here are from the USA / UK and all have English as their first language... arrogance no?
MilesTeg
Well they can ask a simple question like, "What is a mosh pit?"
When it's worded the way the poster did, it sounds like he's incredulous and mocking.
Rodney
Just go to cram school then work in an office and drink coffee and smoke after work. No need for fun.
Uchujin
he's incredulous and mocking?
This is the original question:
njca4
Makes me laugh to see Japanese guys still wearing their office clothes (white shirt, tie and pants) when I go to a concert (LIVE:) .... Only in Japan
opheliajadefeldt
Mosh Pits aside, what bands played at this rock festival? Maybe Lovebites and Bandmaid 2 Japanese all females hard rock bands. If not, what a shame.
Rick Ruin
Glad they are trying to stamp out this moronic ritual that should have died with the nineties. Some people want to enjoy listening to music and watching the band, not mindlessly slamming in to strangers like some angsty depressed loser LOL