Fans-eye view from Naeba

Yo Okado, 41, accountant

What did you think of The Cure?

The Cure were great! I missed their show 23 years ago because I had no money, haha! I was a high-school student then, and I couldn’t get a ticket. The best part was “Boys Don’t Cry” or maybe “Friday I’m in Love,” because today is Friday.

Robert Smith is a bit old, isn’t he?

It’s OK that Robert Smith is getting on a bit. I’m oyaji (an old guy) too. For my generation, he’s still a pop star. The younger people might not know who he is, but Fuji Rock is an education program for younger people in what rock means.

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Kichi, 40, office worker

What’s your last name?

It’s just Kichi!

How was Bo-Peep’s show?

Bo-Peep are so cool! I’ve seen them so many times I can’t count.

What do you think of the Rookie A Go-Go Stage?

I’m going to watch all the bands here.

Who else have you seen this year?

Yesterday I saw The Jerry Of Beat’s on the Rookie A Go-Go stage and . . . sorry, I’m pretty drunk. I’m drinking beer.

How many beers have you had?

That’s something else I couldn’t possibly count.

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Kyoichi, 48, graphic designer

How many times have you been to FRF?

Kyoichi: We come here every year, and we’ve come with Hiroto for the last three. We’ve got to come!

How child-friendly is FRF?

There’s nothing really inconvenient about coming with a child. Today we took Hiroto to Kids Land and he had his face painted up like a Native American. There’s lots of attractions for kids and artistic objects dotted around the festival site, so it’s interesting for them. I think the other festivals are maybe too strict, with lots of people and really loud music.

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Yuko Kanno, 22, student; Sayako, 22, teacher

What did you think of Mika’s show?

Sayako: It was so cute! There were people dressed as animals dancing on stage and they were really cute.

Yuko: There were loads of balloons in the audience. They were bouncing all over the place and I got hit by one.

Are you camping?

Yuko: Yes. It’s almost flat but not quite. But we’re luckier than some.

Is this your first FRF?

Yuko: Sayako’s been once before, but this is my first time.

Sayako: Last year the weather was terrible because of the typhoon, so I’m enjoying it much more this year.

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Luke, 21, builder; Harry, 21, student

When did you get here?

Harry: We flew in from Brisbane last Tuesday. We fly back next week.

Who’s been the best band so far?

Luke: Less Than Jake. They had the biggest mosh circle ever. Everyone was running around anticlockwise — which I thought was a bit weird — but no one got injured. In Australia it gets fairly violent in those situations.

Compare the vibe to Australian fests.

Harry: Drinking in Australia’s big, but they’ve got strict alcohol laws and you have to queue for a ticket, show ID, then queue again to buy the beers.

Luke: Double killer!