Motherwell Strathclyde Park previously hosted the major Scottish music festival, T in the Park, until 1996, when it was moved to a disused airfield in Balado, Kinross-shire. It has also hosted other music festivals such as Retrofest. Modern authors Des McAnulty and Mark Wilson have written novels of critical acclaim which are based in the town (LIFE IS LOCAL, McAnulty) and neighbouring town Bellshill (BOBBY'S BOY, Wilson). Motherwell is the headquarters for both North Lanarkshire Council, which is one of Scotland's most populous local authority areas, and of Police Scotland "Q" division. These organisations cover an overall population of 327,000 people
Kichijōji Music Festival with the four elements of , "Superstage," "Park concert" and "Jazz concert" as its core, the festival has been held during Golden Week every year. The main events and outdoor events are free, but some parts, such as the Old Sound Contest and Jazz Contest are not free. Folk singer Wataru Takada, who dearly loved Kichijōji played on this venue before his death in 2005. Other notable performers who have performed on the Superstage include Ren Osugi, Shiro Sano, Chiyuki Asami and Naoto Kine. Kichijōji Music Festival The is a music festival held annually around Golden Week in Kichijōji, Musashino,