Matsue － On 13 October, a music festival was held in Matsue City to celebrate the city’s friendship with the US city of New Orleans. Many visitors thronged the Umadomari Square of Matsue Castle.
The festival, known as the New Orleans Festival, was headlined by the Tokyo-based Khachaturian Orchestra. Other performers included Haruka Kikuchi with Jazz Spirits from New Orleans, as well as local musicians and groups. Together, they created a lively and welcoming atmosphere for all attendees.
One of the festival’s main highlights was the Little Mardi Gras Matsue parade, inspired by New Orleans’ famous carnival. Participants dressed in the traditional Mardi Gras colours of purple, yellow, and green, wearing face paint and bead necklaces, marched from Matsue Castle to the Prefectural Government Office to the vibrant rhythm of When the Saints Go Marching In.
New Orleans, the largest city in Louisiana, is known for its rich jazz heritage and cultural importance. As a major port at the mouth of the Mississippi River, it has a long history as an industrial and tourist hub. Named after Philippe II, Duke of Orleans, the city uniquely connects with Matsue through the writer Lafcadio Hearn, who once lived in Matsue and later worked as a journalist in New Orleans. This link led to the two cities becoming sister cities in 1994.
This year marked the 30th anniversary of their sister-city relationship. To commemorate the occasion, Mike Turner, president of the Japan Society of New Orleans, along with the Director of International Relations from the New Orleans Municipal Office and other goodwill delegates, attended the event. Their presence underscored the deepening cultural and civic ties between the two cities.
Seam Glazebrook, a member of the New Orleans delegation, praised Matsue, saying, ‘Matsue is a wonderful Japanese city’.
The New Orleans Festival, held every October, has become a beloved autumn tradition in Matsue, alongside the city’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in March.
(Words by Takashi Saito)