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Traditional Performing Arts Festival “Kagurazaka Street Stage, Oedo Tour 2024” Concludes Successfully

Traditional Performing Arts Festival “Kagurazaka Street Stage, Oedo Tour 2024” Concludes Successfully     A Record Number of Attendees at the Traditional Performing Arts Festival “Kagurazaka Street Stage, Oedo Tour 2024” The Traditional Performing Arts Festival “Kagurazaka Street Stage, Oedo Tour 2024” was held on Saturday, May 18th, and Sunday, May 19th, and it concluded successfully. The festival saw a record number of attendees, including many foreign spectators, making it a great success. I also participated as a volunteer staff member for both days and had the opportunity to experience the essence of traditional performing arts from within the organization.   The Festival Featured a Variety of Traditional Performances The festival featured a variety of traditional performances, such as Noh at the Yarai Noh Theater in Kagurazaka, “Shinnai Nagashi” of the Shinnai genre, performances by Kagurazaka Geisha, and the “Johana Hikiyama Festival Iori-uta” from Johana, Nanto City in Toyama Prefecture. Street performances included modern arrangements of traditional instruments like the shakuhachi and Tsugaru shamisen, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the festival.  Notably, foreign spectators included not only residents of Japan but also travelers. Initially unsure of what to expect from the performances, many foreign spectators were seen applauding andread moreTraditional Performing Arts Festival “Kagurazaka Street Stage, Oedo Tour 2024” Concludes Successfully

Did You Know about the Johana Hikiyama Festival? Experience It in Kagurazaka!

Did You Know about the Johana Hikiyama Festival? Experience It in Kagurazaka!     The Johana Hikiyama Festival and the History of Johana Town I participated in the Johana Hikiyama Festival and will share about the festival, the history of Johana, and its connection to Kagurazaka. The Johana Hikiyama Festival is a historic festival held every May 5th in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. It is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. As a traditional cultural event whose style has remained largely unchanged since the Edo period, it captivates local residents and many tourists. One of the festival’s highlights is the evening transformation into a lantern parade, offering a different atmosphere from the daytime. The mikoshi (portable shrine) procession to the festival floats dates back to 1724, making this year 2024 a significant 300-year milestone. The history of Johana Town itself is ancient, with significant settlements known to exist since the Jomon period, serving as a vital living area since ancient times. The town saw significant development as a temple town with the relocation of Zentokuji Temple in 1573. Zentokuji Temple is currently a branch temple of Higashi Honganji in Johana.  The area around Zentokuji was particularly famous for silkread moreDid You Know about the Johana Hikiyama Festival? Experience It in Kagurazaka!