October 30, 2026, 8:30 a.m. (JST)
[Japan] Shizuoka Festival Design Promotion Organization (General Incorporated Association)(Organized by the Street Performance World Cup Executive Committee) will host “Street Performance World Cup in Shizuoka 2026,” one of Asia’s largest street performance festivals, from October 31, 2026, through November 3, 2026, in Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture (at Sunpu Castle Park and various locations throughout the city).At the venue, pilot projects utilizing the latest technologies from across the country—such as tipping via Stablecoin Payments and a digital stamp rally—will be conducted.
Over 1.1 million visitors
expected Showcasing new technology in a high-traffic area
The Street Performance World Cup boasts the largest scale of any street performance festival in Japan, attracting 1.1 million visitors during the event. For four days, the streets of Shizuoka become a stage for unlimited street performances. Takashi Yamauchi, Director of the Shizuoka Festival Design Promotion Organization, explains, “It is one of Asia’s largest street performance festivals and Shizuoka City’s biggest festival.”During the event, hotels in the city and surrounding areas are fully booked, and online searches show high interest throughout the year. While the festival has traditionally been organized and run by volunteers, the organizing body was incorporated in 2026 (Shizuoka Council of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives).
Ms. Yukiko Nishimura, Representative of the Shizuoka Web3 Consortium IEYAS (Head of the Regional Partnership Group, Communication Design Division, Open House Group), moved to Shizuoka during the COVID-19 pandemic and has a track record of launching an industry association focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain approximately 10 years ago.
IEYAS organizes study sessions on Web3, Stablecoin Payments, and blockchain, and is exploring opportunities for regional collaboration. Ms. Nishimura said, “We were approached with the idea of using the Street Performance World Cup as a platform to launch an interesting initiative.“It would be exciting if, in addition to blockchain, Stablecoin Payments—which are a key component (the promotion of on-chain finance, such as Stablecoins and tokenized deposits, is explicitly stated)—could be used for payments in Shizuoka,” she said. She expressed her desire to create an initiative where people can try out these technologies while having fun in places where crowds gather, and to use this as a stepping stone for future business ventures.
A New Tip-Giving Experience (Stablecoin Payments JPYC)
A world where small amounts can be sent without fees
This time, five initiatives will be implemented. The first is a new tipping experience (Stablecoin Payments JPYC). Users can use a wallet for “JPYC”—Japan’s first legally recognized stablecoin—to tip artists or make payments at participating stores. JPYC is a Stablecoin Payments with a value of 1 JPYC = 1 yen.
Audience members can receive JPYC for trial purposes at the Shizuoka Council of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives booth. For this event, the first 30 people will receive the equivalent of 1,000 yen.Attendees can scan the QR code displayed on stage using the “Hakopass” app, select an amount equivalent to 100 yen, 200 yen, or 300 yen, and make a tip. Attendees who tip will receive a thank-you card as a token of appreciation. The organizers stated that their goal for this event is to let people experience a system where small amounts can be sent without transaction fees.Additionally, the goal is to encourage attendees to go beyond just watching a single performance and actively support their favorite artists.
The digital tipping app is being developed by Sunloft, an IT company based in Yaizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Blending
the Metaverse with the Real City Japanese-Made Humanoid Robot Even Performs Improvised Rap
The second event, a stamp rally using “Roblox,” is a digital stamp rally that fuses virtual reality (the metaverse) with the real city. Virtual spaces and interactive features are being built on the Roblox platform.By scanning QR codes posted at designated locations within the venue with a smartphone, the first 200 participants will receive original avatar items—free of charge—that can be worn in Roblox. By designing the system so that participants walk around the World Cup venue in search of these digital items, the initiative encourages visitors to explore the area while having fun.
The third initiative, utilizing the camera app “SNPIT,” features a walking tour event called “Snap and Collect! Photo Quest.” Spectators can earn limited-edition giveaways by using the app to photograph designated subjects set up on-site and completing the quest.
Specifically, participants who photograph a specified number of spots and present the photos at a booth will receive an original SNPIT acrylic keychain (2 designs, 500 total).
Fourth, the Japanese-made humanoid robot “N” will make an appearance as an “AI Street Performer.”Karakuri, a company specializing in the development and implementation of Japanese AI, and Highlanders, a developer of Japanese humanoid robots, have jointly developed the “AI Street Performer” act. In this performance, the AI generates an improvised rap based on prompts from the audience, which the humanoid “N” then performs live on stage alongside professional performers from Japan and abroad at the event venue.The humanoid is said to get the crowd excited with dynamic movements—swaying to the beat of the music, waving its hands, and embodying the energy of the streets.
Fifth, there will be a raffle offering 100 “Satori Coins”—each containing Bitcoin—as a grand prize to attendees who participated in the event survey.
