Fireworks Festival on Lake Biwa Cancelled, Organisers Discuss Refunds
Listen to the story
A joint fireworks festival planned by three cities around Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture was suddenly cancelled.
Many people had already bought tickets for the event, which was meant to be a summer highlight.
One ticket buyer said they had paid 35,000 yen and never got to see the show.
People described their disappointment, with one person saying they now feel 'a hole in their heart.'
Since the cancellation, ticket buyers have expressed growing distrust toward the event organisers.
Many are demanding both a refund and a formal apology for the sudden cancellation.
The organisers, known as the executive committee, responded through a message on social media.
They said discussions were underway with the plan to issue refunds to ticket holders.
However, the exact reason for the cancellation has not been fully explained yet.
The event was meant to bring together three cities near Lake Biwa for one shared celebration.
Many people had looked forward to the fireworks as a special summer memory.
Instead, the sudden cancellation has left many customers frustrated and confused.
It remains unclear when refunds will actually be given to ticket buyers.
The story has drawn attention from local news outlets, including MBS News.
Organisers are expected to give more details as talks about compensation continue.
Vocabulary6 words
- fireworks
- bright, colorful explosions in the sky, often used for celebrations
- tickets
- paper or digital passes that allow entry to an event
- distrust
- a feeling of not believing or trusting someone
- apology
- words said to express regret for something wrong
- social media
- online platforms where people share news and opinions
- cancellation
- the act of stopping an event before it happens
Quiz
Answer key
1. Near Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture 2. A refund and an apology 3. They posted on social media about discussing refunds
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A joint _____ festival planned by three cities around Lake Biwa was suddenly cancelled.
Many people had already bought _____ for the event.
One ticket buyer said they had paid 35,000 _____.
People described their _____, with one person saying they feel 'a hole in their heart.'
Since the cancellation, ticket buyers have expressed growing _____ toward organisers.
Many are demanding both a refund and a formal _____.
The organisers responded through a message on _____.
They said discussions were underway with plans to issue _____.
The exact reason for the _____ has not been fully explained.
It remains unclear when _____ will be given to ticket buyers.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever bought tickets for an event that was cancelled? How did you feel?
- Why do you think trust is important between organisers and customers?
- Do you think an apology is as important as a refund in situations like this? Why or why not?
- How do you think social media helps or hurts communication during events like this?