[The Best Town Ever, Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture] Gather Around, It’s August! - Onagawa Bon Odori 2026

On Sunday, August 16, 2026, I went to “Gather Around, It’s August! - Onagawa Bon Odori 2026”, held at Onagawa Station Square & Camass in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture.

This was the third time the Bon Odori itself has been held.
This was my second time participating as an audio equipment supporter, following last year.

This year, in addition to providing equipment, I was also in charge of the sound operation, so I headed there with great enthusiasm!

Here is the list of main equipment I brought with me this time:

• Main stage speakers: QSC / KC12
• Column speakers surrounding the yagura: JBL / PRX ONE, EON ONE Mk2
• Main mixer: Soundcraft / Ui24R
• Wireless microphones: CLASSIC PRO / CWS802M, CWS801M
• Compact PA for the yagura: CLASSIC PRO / PAeZII
• Audio distributor for the yagura: Behringer / DS2800
• Multicable: CLASSIC PRO / MULTILINK / 24/4

The Regius was packed to the brim.
I like the sense of accomplishment when everything is neatly arranged like Tetris and fits perfectly into the vehicle.
It’s a common occupational disease among PA people lol.

Starting about a month and a half before the event, I had a series of meetings with the members of the Bon Odori organizing committee.
While confirming the performances to be held on stage, the live performances around the yagura, the flow of the day, and so on, we listened to their requests about what they wanted to do. We also made suggestions from a sound-engineering perspective and gradually worked out the details.

This time, we prepared materials like this to share information among the staff.

The Soundcraft Ui24R allows settings for each performance to be saved as snapshots.
It was very convenient because we could select channel presets in advance, prepare reverbs, set monitor balances, and so on.

The PAeZII was used as a compact PA for the performers on top of the yagura.
We basically left the 2-band EQ, effects, and volume balance for each channel up to the performers themselves lol.
We used the main speaker output as a monitor for the performers.
Audio was sent from the MONITOR OUT to the column speaker side and the main PA console.
We did not use it this time, but it also has an AUX OUT, so it can be used to send back a monitor mix with a different balance from the main mix.
It’s a really thoughtful design that can handle those situations when you think, “I wish I had just one more output!”

Red: PRX ONE, Blue: EON ONE Mk2, Green: KC12

During the advance meetings, we said, “We won’t really know until we actually put them in place and try the sound,” but once we actually installed them in this configuration, things turned out pretty well.
Last year, we placed four column speakers inside the yagura, facing in four directions. However, when a large crowd gathered, a wall of people formed, making it difficult for the sound to reach the rear areas sufficiently.
So this year, we changed the arrangement to have the speakers face inward from outside the yagura.
As a result, we were able to successfully improve the issue we had experienced last year.

AI image generation was useful for sharing an image of the planned equipment setup for the band stage.
I added some additional information to the image and shared it with everyone, saying, “There are, of course, some things that don’t quite make sense, but overall, this is roughly what it will look like.”

And then, the actual setup ended up looking like this.

This is the stage side.

• Main speakers: QSC / KC12 + 2 handmade sunshades
• Floor monitors: CLASSIC PRO / CP12ME x2
• Side monitors: JBL / JRX215 x2

We borrowed the monitor speakers from Glide!
I’m happy that they chose CLASSIC PRO and JBL!

Among the column speakers we brought this time, the QSC KC12 had the highest output capability.
As you can see, it wasn’t blazing hot and sunny on the day, but we still attached the handmade sunshades lol.

White models have visual advantages such as giving an impression of cleanliness and being easy to use at weddings and other events, but I also think one of their advantages is that, compared with black models, their surface temperature is less likely to rise when exposed to direct sunlight.

This is the view from the stage.
It wasn’t too hot that day, and with just the right amount of sunshine and a pleasant sea breeze, the weather was absolutely perfect.
It was nice enough that we probably would have been fine even without the handmade sunshades I made for the column speakers lol.

This is the JBL PRX ONE on the station side.
It is the largest model among the three JBL column speakers. Its thick low end and smoothly extended mid and high frequencies were impressive, as expected.

This is the PRX ONE on the road and food-area side.
During the daytime, we pointed it toward the food area. Once the Bon Odori started, we changed its direction and pointed it toward the yagura.

The one installed in the front left is the JBL EON ONE Mk2.
Its amplifier output is more modest compared with the PRX ONE and KC12, but because it was closer to the yagura than the KC12 and PRX ONE, it provided just the right balance in this location.

This is the JBL EON ONE Mk2 installed on the station side, in front of Camass.
It didn’t rain during the event, but at one point the sky looked like, “Uh-oh, it might rain...”
At that moment, someone from the organizing committee immediately put a cover over it.
That kind of teamwork is really helpful!

The JBL PRX ONE and EON ONE Mk2 can be controlled using the JBL Pro Connect app. On the day, I walked around the venue while adjusting the volume, EQ, limiters, and other settings on each speaker.

Because of the handmade sunshade covers lol, there were times when the control panel on the units could not be seen or the knobs could not be reached, so being able to operate them from a smartphone or tablet was extremely helpful.

The device sitting on top of the Ui24R is the receiver for the CLASSIC PRO wireless system. The device on the left is a karaoke DAM machine. Apparently, it costs more than one million yen, so we handled it very, very carefully!

One of the key selling points of the Ui24R is that it is a digital mixer with wireless control, but since it relies on wireless communication, it is essential to have a backup plan for “just in case.” So, I connected a laptop via a wired connection and used it that way.

This is the box side of the MULTILINK multicable installed on the stage.

With this, there is no need to run a large number of microphone cables one by one from the PA console to the stage.
The MULTILINK/24/4 can be used as follows:

• 24 channels: Send audio from the stage to the PA console
• 4 channels: Send audio back from the PA console to the stage

This time, we used the return channels to send audio to the power amplifier that drove the side-monitor speakers.

Here is the equipment used for the band.
I forgot to take a wide shot during the daytime lol.

So, that was a rough introduction to the preparations before the actual event.

---

The event finally starts!
Before that, everyone from the organizing committee gathered together.
I could feel from each and every person the feeling of,
“Let’s enjoy the festival!”
It naturally put a smile on my face, too.

And I formed a huddle for the first time in so long that I can’t even remember when the last time was!!

The students from Onagawa Elementary and Junior High Schools performed the traditional Shishi-furi.
It was deeply moving to see the tradition being passed down continuously from one generation to the next.

Everyone from Onagawa Dance School.
You could tell how much they had practiced for this day, and it was so wonderfully peaceful and heartwarming (≧▽≦)

AWS, the acapella group, performed songs that everyone knows with beautiful harmonies. I had a great time adjusting the volume balance and reverb while singing along♪ So I wasn’t able to take any photos or videos. I’m quoting their post on X instead.

Beatboxer Haruki(≧▽≦)

Even people who had never really experienced beatboxing up close were amazed by the performance as the sounds were layered one after another!
I also had a chance to talk with him after the event, and he was an absolutely wonderful person☆

Everyone from Umineko-tai, a volunteer group from Onagawa, Miyagi♪

• Jongara Onna-bushi
• Oraga Ejima
• Tairyo Utaikomi

They performed these three dances!

The members of Onagawa Shishi-furi Gensai.
The sound of the flutes, drums, and shouts all mixed together was really cool.

After this, there were also:

• Karaoke competition
• Acoustic band live performance
• Paper airplane throwing contest
• Onagawa People’s Speech / Loud Voice Championship

...but I was so busy running around that I couldn’t take any photos...

LIVE Performance by Yufu Terashima, Tourism Ambassador of Onagawa Town!

Somewhere in this image, there is a JBL column speaker EON ONE Mk2 hiding.
If you look closely, you can see it saying hello lol.
It was delivering clear, pleasant sound♪

During DJ time, a large crowd gathered around the yagura.
Everyone was dancing with smiles on their faces, regardless of age♪
I was really happy to think that the six column speakers were delivering energetic sound and contributing, even just a little, to the excitement of the venue.

For the guest live performance, it was Wanyu-do for the second year in a row.

His rap, which reaches deep into the depths of your heart, was simply “the best!”

A rapper from Chiba Prefecture whom I met in Onagawa lol.
His freestyle encore was amazing☆
We were totally fired up (≧▽≦)

And then, the band performed live!!
At last year’s after-party, I had said,
“I’d love to play bass for one song with a band someday.”
My friends in Onagawa made that wish come true.

No practice beforehand.
No rehearsal.
It was truly a live performance with absolutely no preparation.
Some of the members were even meeting each other for the first time lol.

The result...

It was incredibly fun.

I was deeply moved.

What made me especially happy was that I was able to show my daughters both sides of me: working and playing in a band.

And after turning 40, I was able to meet people I could truly call ‘friends’.

I am really grateful (人´∀｀)

Onagawa is the best!

■ 2026 Onagawa Bon Odori – Band Performance “Baby Baby” @YouTube

We gathered at 7:00 a.m., and the event ended at 9:00 p.m. (We finished the teardown at around 11:00 p.m.)
It was a long day, but fortunately there were no major problems, and we were able to keep delivering sound safely until the event came to an end.

Lessons Learned from This PA Job

After actually being in charge of the sound operation this time, there were several things I realized I could have done better.

1. I should have asked each stage performer to submit a band sheet I wonder why I didn’t think of this beforehand lol.

For each performer, it would have been helpful to share the following information in advance:

• Microphones to be used
• Instruments
• Whether a DI was needed
• Monitor requirements
• Positions on stage

If we had shared this information beforehand, I think we could have handled things even more smoothly.

2. Have performers use the same numbered microphones during the actual performance as they used during rehearsal

Once the actual performance starts, the performers get excited too.
When several microphones are placed on stage, they may naturally pick up whichever microphone happens to be closest.
We also shouldn’t have left everything entirely up to them. We needed to provide more support, right down to handing them the specific microphone and saying, “Please use this one.”

3. The tablet screen is almost impossible to see during the day

This was quite a problem.
Under direct sunlight, the screen was difficult to see, and there were times when detailed adjustments were difficult unless I moved into the shade.
After making a sunshade for the column speakers, I guess the next step is to make one for the tablet myself lol.

4. My fingers cramp when I keep making fine adjustments on the tablet

This was completely unexpected lol.
After making fine adjustments for a long time with my finger on the screen, my finger started cramping halfway through lol.

5. Build the Wi-Fi environment with more room for stability

This time, I connected using the built-in Wi-Fi function of the Ui24R itself.
However, when a large crowd gathered in front of the stage during the band’s live performance, there were times when the connection with the tablet became unstable.
Several factors may have contributed, including signal blockage caused by the large number of people gathered and the surrounding radio-frequency environment.
Next time, I would like to prepare an external Wi-Fi router and install it as high as possible to create a more stable communication environment.

Looking Back on the Event

First of all, I was relieved.
That was my honest feeling immediately after the event ended.
We started seriously preparing about a month and a half before the event, but various issues came up as we worked through the preparations. Each time, we discussed them with the organizing committee and the staff who would be coming with us, and solved them one by one. We repeated that process many times and finally arrived on the day of the event.

I thought I had prepared quite thoroughly in my own way. Even so, during the preparations, setup, and actual event, things we had never anticipated kept happening one after another. We had to make decisions on the spot and respond flexibly. Even while running around in a hectic situation, I put all the knowledge I had to work and somehow made it through to the end. What I felt once again was just how amazing and how difficult the work of professional PA engineers is.
I gained an even stronger sense of respect for everyone working in the PA industry. There is a lot of pressure during the actual performance.
But the sense of accomplishment you get when you overcome that pressure and successfully bring an event to an end is truly irreplaceable.

Members of the organizing committee told me:
“The sound is better than last year. Thank you.”
And after their performances, the performers told me things like:
“Thank you for working so hard on the sound.”
“Thanks to you, I was able to sing comfortably.”

I received so many kind and encouraging words.
But I know we can still create an even better sound environment.
I want to create an even better environment for everyone in Onagawa.
And for that, I need to study PA even more!
That is what I strongly felt.

Looking back, it all started three years ago.
I think it began when I visited Onagawa on a business trip after the first Bon Odori. At Bar Sugar Shack, the shop of Shuhei Sakimura, chairman of the Onagawa Bon Odori organizing committee, I was shown a digest video of the event.

Everyone there told me that it had been an unbelievably fun Bon Odori.
And then they said, “Please come to the second one next year, too, Kawanishi-san.” From that moment, I have continued to stay connected with the people of Onagawa.

The people of Onagawa have an incredible amount of vitality.
People often say, “One for all, all for one,” but I feel that the people of Onagawa naturally live that way.

If someone is having trouble, people help them.
If someone says, “I want to do something like this,”
someone will naturally come along and say,
“I can do this.”

I think it was precisely because Onagawa is a town filled with so many people like that that it was a completely natural progression for me to volunteer to provide audio equipment support this time.

I am grateful that I was able to discover Onagawa.

I am grateful that I was able to meet the people of Onagawa.

I am grateful to everyone who warmly welcomes me every time, even though I can only visit once every few months.

I am grateful that, after turning 40, I was able to find people I can call ‘friends’ in Onagawa, far away from Chiba.

Next year, too, I want to “have fun with everyone with all my energy.”

And for that, I’ll work hard, too lol.

And now, some more photos from Onagawa.

Early morning at Seapal-Pier.

Makocchan and friends’ shop, Onagawa Ginjake Koho-bu.

A set meal called an “Application for Membership.” You can enjoy both sashimi and grilled salmon♪
If you go to Onagawa, you absolutely have to try it♪

Shunsuke-san - “We should show the children of Onagawa an example of adults having fun, too.” That really moved me.

The long fries were incredibly delicious.

Yume Shibai Ume-Ginger Lemon Sour - I wanted to try it lol.

The food and drink area run by the organizing committee members.
Apparently, they sold out of all the food they had prepared and achieved their highest sales ever.

The children’s water-play area.
They were throwing water balloons at each other with all their might, and I was jealous lol.

There was also a festival-game area, where families were having a great time.

Miraculously, Sunday was the only day with good weather!!

The amazing 100th-anniversary commemorative face-in-the-hole panel. Of course, I did it lol.

Of course, I did this one too lol.

The Stage Evolution bubble machine was also extremely popular!!

Everyone went around and around the yagura together. Traditional Bon Odori was so much fun. Even if you don’t know how to dance, you gradually start having fun as you watch the people around you who know how to dance and imitate them.

DJ time after the sun went down!! The energy was incredible.

Man, that was fun.

The Sound House logo is way too big.

I found a photo of the paper airplane throwing contest!!

So many people came to watch the band’s live performance!!

At this point, only the area to the left of the drums was a place where I could connect to Wi-Fi lol.

See you again next year!!

Event Information

[Gather Around, It’s August! - Onagawa Bon Odori 2026]