Transforming the entire Kagurazaka neighbourhood into a stage for a festival to enjoy Japan’s various traditional performing arts
Kagurazaka Street Stage O-edo Tour 2020 is a two-day event giving a large trans-generational audience including overseas visitors an accessible way to see, hear and have contact with Japan’s foremost traditional performing arts, combined with the charms of Kagurazaka where the flavor of old Edo still lingers.
*For details of the Eve please click here.
Kagurazaka Rakuza – Storytellers′ Theater
We present traditional Japanese katarigei (narrative arts) such as historical kodan storytelling, rokyoku narrative singing, gidayu-bushi(musical narrative from joruri) and biwa-gatari accompanied by Japanese lute on a special stage at Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple, a Kagurazaka landmark.
Kagurazaka performing arts tour and live street performances
Visitors can enjoy a variety of traditional performing arts on themes like classical/contemporary and encounters between tradition culture/different cultures along Kagurazaka’s main street Kagurazaka-dori (Waseda-dori). On offer will be everything from gagaku ancient court music to Tsugaru shamisen, daikagura traditional performing arts and the Edo magic tradition of tezuma.
The streets of Kagurazaka
[Shinnai-nagashi performance]
The troupe of shinnai-bushi Living National Treasure and Kagurazaka resident Wakasanojo Tsuruga will be performing its traditional shinnai-nagashi shamisen music around the cobblestone side streets.
[Johana folk performance of iori-uta music]
The Hikiyama Matsuri festival from the Johana area of Nanto City in Toyama Prefecture is a designated UNESCO intangible cultural heritage. Performers of Hikiyama Matsuri iori-uta music, said to derive from Edo hauta music, have been invited to Kagurazaka and will perform “Bunka no satogaeri”(“cultural homecoming”).
Kami-asobi performance
On the steps in front of the main Akagi-jinja Shrine building, visitors can enjoy Edo-daikagura, traditional music, performances featuring Western instruments and collaborations between contemporary dance and traditional Japanese musical instruments.
Experiencing Ozashiki Asobi (traditional Japanese parlor games) (charges apply, advance registration required)
Ozashiki-asobi refers to the uniquely Japanese entertainment form of traditional parlor games played with geisha. After enjoying songs, shamisen and dancing by Kagurazaka’s geisha, visitors can experience playing “ozashiki games” together at the “Kenban.”This gateway to the world of the geisha is the geisha’s administrative office and training place, and usually closed to the public. English interpreting is provided so that everyone including non-Japanese will find this event accessible and easy to understand.
Evening live music performance at Akagi-jinja Shrine
This twilight concert at Akagi-jinja Shrine’s Kagura hall brings the festival to a lively close, with performances of Japanese-style magic, the Edo magic tradition of tezuma and contemporary musical pieces played on the flute-like gagaku instrument the sho, as well as a popular program of music often featuring in Kabuki and performed with nagauta shamisen and hogaku-bayashi music.
Kagurazaka Time Slip (Stamp rally / historical tour/ Kids’ Square)
We will also be holding a stamp rally around Kagurazaka in which participants have the chance to win an original Japanese hand towel. Children will really enjoy the old-fashioned charms of kami-shibai paper theater and traditional children’s games, while our guides provide insights into Kagurazaka’s history.
*Details are subject to change.
Kagurazaka Street Stage / O-edo Tour 2020 Office (inside Koten Kukan Office)
TEL: 03-5478-8265
Sunday, May 10 2020, 11:30
*This event will be carried out rain or shine but will be cancelled in the case of a stormy weather.
