Originally posted by yukilaneige | February 9, 2025
How to set the participation fee—
this has always been a major issue.
As stated on the flyer and the website,
only if all three events over the three-year period are fully booked does the budget finally break even.
(In order to receive official support from the Kyoto City Board of Education, the project must not be operated for profit.)
Still, whenever I hear someone say,
“I’m interested, but at this price I can’t afford to attend, so I’ll have to give up,”
it makes my heart ache.
Sometimes I hear that this was said by someone who saw the flyer.
Given the times we are living in—or even without that context—I understand such situations very well.
However, if we were to seek a major sponsor and lower the ticket price across the board, I feel that the true value of the event itself would become unclear.
For that reason, I do not want to reduce the general participation fee.
For elementary, junior high, and high school students, as well as those under 25, we decided—perhaps somewhat boldly—to set a significantly reduced fee, even at the risk of operating at a loss.
Thankfully, we received generous support that made this possible.
But still…
In fact, ever since the first event, I have found myself wondering whether it is not only young people, but rather adults who are often in a position where they simply cannot afford to pay.
While preparing for the final program of this event and conducting research on Nanbu tōji work songs, I recalled something said by Mr. Masatoshi Sasaki, former president of the Nanbu Tōji Association.
He mentioned that he had appeared in “Tono, risoku de gozaru” (“My Lord, It Is the Interest”) at someone’s request. Curious, I watched it again.
If one connects the beginning and the end of the “STORY” section, the narrative can be summarized as follows:
The Sendai domain, suffering from severe financial difficulties, imposed relentless taxes on farmers and townspeople, leading to bankruptcy and families fleeing in the night.
Bound by a self-imposed rule of restraint—never to boast of this deed for generations to come—Jūsaburō, his younger brother Jin’nai, and their fellow townspeople cast aside their own interests and sacrificed their personal fortunes, striving solely for the sake of the town and its people.
What resonated deeply with me was a line spoken by a sake brewer and moneylender—someone feared as a heartless collector of interest—when he sees a man borrowing money to flee at night:
“Don’t worry about the debt. You did your best. This is not your fault. It’s the way the world is that’s wrong.”
While doing desk work for this event, I found myself watching that scene again and again.
And so, with the event now just two days away, I don’t know whether announcing this here will reach people in time—but for reservations made up until the day before the event (tomorrow, in this case), I would like to offer the following option:
If there is someone who is genuinely interested and truly wants to attend, but simply cannot afford the ¥5,000 participation fee, they may contact us.
We can reserve a ticket in an envelope, and they may place inside it whatever amount they are able to give—¥500 or more, to the best of their ability—and attend the event.
This time, it may be too late for many people.
But for next year, I would like to consider alternatives—such as asking for help with flyer distribution, or other forms of contribution that are not monetary, allowing people to give what they can in their own way.
Above all, I do not want anyone who feels drawn to this event to give up at that point.