S2O JAPAN: How Thai Songkran Birthed Japan’s Ultimate Wet Fest

More Than Just Splashing Around: “S2O JAPAN”‘s Goal for Thai-Japanese Ties

-Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be the first “S2O JAPAN” is held in five years since 2019. What are the differences from the last event and what should attendees look forward to this time?

KIUCHI: In addition to the artist lineup, this year’s “S2O JAPAN” is themed around improving Thai-Japanese relations, offering a full Thai experience through food and drinks. We will be selling the popular watermelon smoothie drink from the Thai Festival Tokyo at Yoyogi Park. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage their senses and gain a deeper understanding of Thailand, the “Land of Smiles.”

KIUCHI: Another highlight of this year is the appearance of Woody, a national icon in Thailand and the founder of “S2O.” He is a major celebrity in Thailand, comparable to Japan’s Matsuko Deluxe or Shinnosuke Sakagami, and is known by everyone in the country.

–“S2O” appears ready to serve as a major bridge between Thailand and Japan.

KIUCHI: Looking ahead, we hope to further contribute to strengthening the relationship between Thailand and Japan. Thailand is a pro-Japanese country, and we see a good synergy, as demonstrated by the sold-out event for a popular Thai drama held at Yokohama Arena. Additionally, the American hip-hop festival “Rolling Loud” made its Asian debut in Thailand, highlighting the country’s role as a hub in Asia. In this context, we feel the need to reestablish and strengthen our relationship with Thailand.

As a first step, we have involved institutions such as the Thai Embassy, Odaiba Tourism Bureau, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government as sponsors. We are also working on local, community-focused initiatives, such as running commercials in facilities like Tokyo Joypolis and Hilton Tokyo Odaiba.

We aim to make “S2O JAPAN” accessible to people of all ages. Currently, the event targets a limited age range, but the local area in Koto Ward has seen a decrease in attendance due to the withdrawal of commercial facilities over the past decade. Creating a new festival in Tokyo is challenging, but if successful, it could energize and inspire younger generations.

By 2026, we plan to organize an Asian live tour to promote Japanese artists and, subsequently, develop a concept called “S2O Jungle,” which will combine camping with water festivals for 5,000 to 10,000 people, making it family-friendly. Ultimately, we aim to establish “S2O JAPAN” alongside a new Tokyo festival celebrating “Songkran.”

S2O JAPAN SONGKRAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2024 Event Overview

• Dates: August 3 (Sat), 2024 and August 4 (Sun), 2024
• Time: Doors open at 12:00 PM, Event starts at 1:00 PM
• Venue: Odaiba R District, S2O JAPAN Special Event Site
• Address: 135-0064 Aomi, Koto City, Tokyo, Japan
• Organizer: S2O JAPAN SONGKRAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2024 Executive Committee
• Support: Royal Thai Embassy in Tokyo
• Official Website / Social Media:
  • Website: https://s2ojapan.com/
  • Instagram: https://instagram.com/s2ojapan/
  • X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/s2ojapan
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@S2OJAPANofficial