Sanriku International Arts Festival 2023 SHIFT
The Sanriku International Arts Festival began in 2014 as a result of the encounter between artists who visited the Sanriku coastal area and local folk performing art practitioners after the Great East Japan Earthquake. This is a festival that reaches over 600km as its core location from Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, to Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, aiming to realize a sustainable "creative recovery" by communicating the charm of Sanriku, a treasure trove of performing arts, to people in Japan and abroad, and by exchanging with traditional and contemporary performing artists from all over the world, especially from Asia.
Spanning a breathtaking 600km along the coast, 15 municipalities stretch from Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture in the north to Rikuzentakata in Iwate Prefecture in the south. Together, they unite to host the Sanriku International Arts Festival again this year, with "transition" as its theme.
This region has a deep-rooted cultural legacy. Performing arts such as the "deer dance" (shishiodori), "sword dance" (kenbai), "tiger dance" (toramai), "sansa," "nanyadoyara," and the traditional Shinto music and dance (kagura) have been passed down through generations. These traditions, nurtured by the people of the region, showcasing the rich tapestry of stories that have been told for generations—and those yet to be told.
As we stand on the cusp of the future, what transitions await the next generation? The Sanriku International Arts Festival might just offer insights into these questions.
Main works (stored items)
Sanriku Geinoh Discovery Summit
Fourteen performing arts groups from Sanriku will gather in Ofunato!
This year, we are welcoming Miroto Dance Company from Indonesia.
On October 7th (Sat.), there will be performing arts by a bonfire,
and on October 8th (Sun.), you can enjoy performances and food at the nearby Ofunato Industry Festival.
This 2-day event will provide an opportunity to enjoy vibrant performing arts and food at the same time.
Miroto Dance Company
Works by Miroto, an internationally acclaimed artist from Indonesia who loved Sanriku will also be performed.
We welcome Miroto Dance Company, long-time friends from Indonesia. You won't want to miss their performance called Asian Tiger, which is a fusion of traditional Javanese dance and contemporary dance, and other dance performances by these young people.
Sanriku Nodamura Future Geinoh Festival
Nodamura Meeting for Geinoh Beginnings and Beyond
The folk performing arts festival focuses on young performers who are responsible for the future of the Tohoku and Sanriku regions. This year, it will be held in Noda Village in Iwate Prefecture.
Noda Village is located in the northeastern coastal area of Iwate Prefecture. This village has the “salt road” where precious salt was carried on the backs of cattle (cows), and deployed throughout the region by crossing the harsh Kitakami mountains. Noda is also the home of traditions which state that “namomi” demons that the gods use fall from the mountains during the First Full Moon Festival. The area has a history of being hit by numerous natural disasters such as tsunamis and famine. Village ancestors never gave up in the face of these hardships, carving a path to the future by engraving messages on stone monuments and enjoying arts and events.
This festival of folk performing arts features a gathering of highly talented young performers in a future-oriented seaside outdoor park in Noda Village. These performers have expansive discussions about the arts which color the culture of each region.
These local performing arts are packed with the techniques, strength, and wisdom for life in these areas. Create a new future for the region with new performing arts at Noda Village, where you can find new techniques, strength, wisdom, and people.