Street performers auditioned Tuesday in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Shinjuku to receive local government licenses to perform in public places.
About 220 groups of candidates who had passed an earlier screening round turned up for the auditions, which run through Saturday, under Tokyo's Heaven Artist Program.
The performers include professionals and amateurs, ranging from teenagers to people in their 70s. Candidates have 15 minutes to impress a nine-member judging panel that includes actor Shoichi Ozawa.
The auditions will include a variety of familiar street entertainment, including music, juggling, pantomime and "human statues."
Performers who pass the auditions will be licensed to perform at places such as subway stations and parks in Tokyo beginning in September. The licenses must be renewed on an annual basis, although further auditions are unnecessary.
The metropolitan government has not yet decided on the details of the licenses but said it hopes to issue them to performers at no cost.
"It's perhaps more fun and exciting to watch them in person under the sky rather than watching rubbish TV programs," said Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara as he took a look at the auditions.
Ishihara cheered for the participants, saying the metropolitan government hopes it can help the performers entertain the public.