We will hold the event “Kagurazaka Street Stage O-edo Tour 2015” again this year. “Eve” on Saturday, November 14 2015 and “Main Festival” on Sunday, November 15 2015, which showcases the charms of Kagurazaka, a traditional and cultural town resonant with a mixed atmosphere of Old and Modern Tokyo as well as a sense of sophisticated Paris.
Artists from a new face to an expert, of a wide variety of fields and active on the front lines of traditional performing arts, will get together and show you unique performances, with the support by the local people. Any visitor, who is unfamiliar with traditional performing arts, one in younger generation, or a guest from overseas, will surely enjoy those programs.
In the two-day event, comprising the Eve and Main Festival, various artists with deep connections to Kagurazaka will honor us with their performances. Also the group of folk melodies, which attracted much attention last year, carrying on the legacy of the Edo-period (1603-1867) culture and performing arts, will be invited from Toyama Prefecture again this year.
Last year, we were fortunate enough to have over forty thousand visitors; this year you too have the opportunity to see how tradition gets mixed with everyday life. Kagurazaka is a place where Japan’s traditional arts still live. Please join us in this two-day celebration.
For details about “Eve,” please see here.
Performers of Shinnai Nagashi, usually consisting of two shamisen players perform while walking on the streets and alleys in Kagurazaka. They perform and go around alleys, unique to Kagurazaka.
A traditional festival (designated as Important Intangible Cultural Property) in Johana of Nanto City（Toyama prefecture) called “Hikiyama Matsuri” is being held for 300 years. The music called “Ioriuta” comes from the Edo period and inherits in the festival is specific to the Johana area.
(1)Shinnai Nagashi Performance
【Date】Sunday, November 15 2015, around 13:30-11:30-
【Venue】Kagurazaka area
【Performers】Troupe of Wakasanojo Tsuruga, a Living National Treasure living in Kagurazaka
(2)Johana Folk Performance Ioriuta Music
【Date】Sunday, November 15, 2015, around 13:00-
【Venue】Kagurazaka area
【Performers】Troupe of Johana Ioriuta Music “Houtetsu Kai”
In the old days, people would get much of their education from lectures within the grounds of temples and shrines. Building on this tradition, this year there will be a stage in the Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple where young storytellers will recount stories about Kagurazaka’s history. The stories will be either accompanied by a biwa lute or told in the joruri ballad style (Gidayu-bushi, Shinnai-bushi) and they will paint a vivid-color image of the vibrant life of Kagurazaka.
【Date】Sunday, November 15, 2015, 12:0011:00-16:30
【Venue】Special stage inside Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple
【Admission】Free *reservation not required
【Performers】Storyteller (Sanryoku Kanda, Kirari Kanda) Biwa Duo (Yukihira Goto, Yuiko Mizushima), Gidayu-bushi(Kyonosuke Takemoto, Kazu Tsuruzama), Shinnai-bushi(Isekichi Tsuruga, Iseyuki Tsuruga)
Three places are set up on the streets in Kagurazaka where you can enjoy a variety of traditional performing arts while strolling in the district. Performances by a fusion unit of tradition and modern, a performer recreating the spirit of Edo, and others will entertain every visitor, regardless of age or gender.
【Date】Sunday,November 15, 2015, 12:30-16:30
【Venue】3 places (in front of Shimakin ee; restaurant, Yamashita Shikki Shop, and The pocket park in front of PARK LUXE KAGURAZAKA)
【Admission】Free *reservation not required
【Performers】Seshami Street Boys (Tsugaru-shamisen performance), Yutaka Oyama (Tsugaru-shamisen) & Masaki Otawa (Drum), Daisuke Kiba (Japanese fiddle), Miyama Mcqueen-Tokita (Koto), Shen Kyomei (Shakuhachi), Mitsuru Kamijo (puppet play), Senoh Maruichi Troupe (Edo Dai Kagura music), and others
Ozashiki-asobi is the name of traditional parlor games with geisha ladies in Japan. This entertainment offers a good opportunity for foreign visitors to enjoy and experience Japanese traditional performing arts in a casual manner. The Kenban (the administration office and training place for geisha) is the gateway to karyukai and usually closed to the public except for this special occasion.
【Date】Sunday, November 15 2015, twice 13:00-14:00 and 14:30-15:30 *The same program for both times
【Venue】Kenban (the administration office and training place for geisha)
【Admission】2,500 yen *Reservation required
(Up to 40 persons per performance for two performances = 80 persons in total)
*Brochures in English and consecutive interpretation are available on the day.
・For tickets, contact “Confetti.”
http://confetti-web.com/ TEL:0120-240-540(Tall-free number)
*Operators are available 10:00-18:00 on weekdays (Japanese Only)
(Tickets are sold out. No tickets to be sold on the day of the event.)
Performers:Geisha in Kagurazaka
In the performance hall of the Akagi Shrine, a spot is known for Kagurazaka’s refined charm, there will be a musical performance of a genre of classic Japanese music (gagaku, nagauta, etc.). For the finale, the performers who have appeared in other events of the “Kagurazaka Street Stage O-edo Tour 2015” will join the musicians on stage and all together—artists and audience—will bring the two-day festival to a close.
【Date】Sunday, November 15 2015, 15:30-around 17:0015:50–around 17:30
【Venue】Kagura Hall in Akagi Shrine
【Admission】Free *reservation not required
【Performers】Yoshimura Isojiro (Nagauta music), Kiba Daisuke (Kokyu) & Yoshiba Miho (Koto Japanese harp), Gagaku Zanmai Nakamura’s Family (Japanese ancient music)
You can enjoy and learn about Kagurazaka while touring seven points in the district. You will encounter old day street performances called daidougei around the points. If you are in a photo with them, you will experience being back on a traditional scene. Also, historical guides are available at seven or eight particular places in the course. They will help fulfill your various interests. If you collect 6 stamps, you will get an original Japanese traditional hand towel(Quantities are limited) of this event at the exchange place.
【Date】Sunday, November 15 2015, 11:00-16:00
【Venue】7 stamp spots in Kagurazaka area
【Admission】Free *reservation not required
【Performers】Japan’s Street Performers, Street Performance Association (Jigoku-Gokuraku Picture Telling, Nankin tamasudare, and others)
Kagurazaka Street Stage O-edo Tour 2015 Office (inside Koten Kukan Office)
TEL:03-5478-8265 (in Japanese) (10:00-18:00 on Weekdays)
FAX: 03-5478-8267
E-Mail: info@koten.co.jp (English or Japanese)
Sunday, November 15, 2015 11:00-17:0017:30
*Rain or shine unless the weather becomes dangerous.
*The time of the event has changed.
Kagurazaka area (The Bishamonten Zenkokuji Temple, Akagi Shrine, Tokyo Kagurazaka Association “Kenban”, Kagurazaka Street and other streets / alleys, historic and scenic sites and the others)
