Hiragana, an Osaka-based event production firm, and B-Side Productions, based in Manila, have announced the upcoming Ichiban Festival, a celebration of Japanese and Filipino traditions.

Since "Ichiban" means "the best," this festival strives to bring together some of Japan's, the Philippines', and other countries' best performers.

This is the country's fourth Ichiban Festival, but it will be hosted outside of Manila for the first time, and on one of the world's most beautiful islands, no less.

The festival will be held on Saturday at Harana Surf Club, which also hosts Siargao's busiest Saturday party, "Harana Sabado Nights."

DJs include international acts DJ HI-C, Senoh, and MOMO from Osaka; 8Man and Ruffles from Melbourne; Jase from Ho Chi Minh; Free the Robots from LA; and Mulan, JayRu, and Butta B from Manila.

Throughout the event, Japanese artists Sence of Wonder (Lazer Technical Crew) and Moya (Kunihiko Harada) will provide visual effects. The musical and visual artists will perform on two stages: the Main Stage and the Beach Stage, creating a multi-sensory experience for both.

The Ichiban Festival will also include Japanese lanterns known as "chochins" that will be displayed in Harana's garden. Critically acclaimed Filipino and Japanese artists Garapata, Avggs, Anton Belardo, Vernon Perez, Tyang, Raizel Go, Doctor Karayum, Kiko Escora, Itoyo, Hana, Casper, Naoki, Baki Baki, and Mon will design each of these chochins.

In addition to the festivities, Hiragana will organize an outreach program in conjunction with Siargao's own Lokal Lab, a grassroots NGO dedicated to supporting and empowering the local people of Siargao through sustainable projects inspired by island customs.

This outreach initiative aims to improve cross-cultural understanding and appreciation by teaching local children Japanese arts and crafts and bringing visiting international artists to Lokal Lab's farm to learn more about Siargao's environmental best practices and problems.

In accordance with this, the Ichiban Festival wants to bring together a varied audience that shares a love of not just music, art, and culture but also nature, health, and fitness.

As a result, Siargao-based Andi Eigenmann, Metro Channel's "Beached" host Christi McGarry, and Brazilian DJ-adventurer-athlete Eduardo Lara will be in attendance.

Meanwhile, Hiragana is a Japanese event production business situated in Osaka. It draws its name from the Japanese term for "flowing," as its vision is to appreciate the flow of culturally shared arts.