Farewell Meeting: Kazuo Ohno

Dear Readers,

Here is information on Farewell Meeting Kazuo Ohno.
You may forward.

Warmest Regards,

Yukihiko YOSHIDA


http://www.kazuoohnodancestudio.com/bravo103/index_english.html

After having fruitfully lived out his life span, Kazuo Ohno passed away
peacefully at the age of 103 years and seven months. We have organized a
small Memorial service to express our gratitude as well as to quietly
reflect back over his life.
We hope that you may join with us on this occasion.

The event is diffused via Usteam.


Time 17 July, Saturday , 2010 14:00-19:00
Place BankART Studio NYK / NYK Hall（MAP）
Exhibition Eikoh Hosoe's Butterfly Dream Photo Scroll and Kazuo Ohno's video
screening

Fee 1000yen
Information Canta Co.Ltd
[Phone] 070-5565-7057 [FAX] 03-3450-6507
[Email] info@kazuoohnodancestudio.com
[URL] http://www.kazuoohnodancestudio.com
Organized by Canta Co.Ltd
Cooperated by BankART1929 (http://www.bankart1929.com)

Nutscracker in Japan

For Nutscrackermania in worldwide.

Greeting from Tokyo.

Here are Nutscrackers in Japan.

Merry Chirstmas from TOKYO.


New National Theater Ballet

You can get information from the website below.
http://www.atre.jp/09nutcracker/

Soki Ballet (from Sendai, Nothern Japan)
http://www.sokiballet.jp/

Sadamatsu-Hamada Ballet (from Kobe, Western Japan)
http://www.sadamatsu-hamada.com/
With Satsuki Sejima

With Yuuka Takenaka

Networked Virtual Performance Envirorments: Japan UKIYO LAB

December 3-13, 2009

Networked Virtual Performance Envirorments: Japan UKIYO LAB in residence
with Mixed reality Lab, Keio University (dir. by. Prof. Adrian Cheok)

In the second phase of the UKIYO project collaboration, the DAP-Lab team (Brunel University) will reside in Tokyo and be guests in residence at Mixed
Reality Lab, Hiyoshi Campus, Keio University, directed by Professor Adrian Cheok. There the researchers from Japan and Europe will spend several days investigating new approaches to 3d virtual reality and virtual movement design, and exchanging knowledge and methodologies. In the second half ofthe UKIYO research encounter, Johannes Birringer and his DAP team will meet some of the leading Japanese choreographers and digital artists interested in hybrid performance choreography, and they will work together from 9th to 12th December 2009. An international symposium is hosted by Keio University during this time frame, with an evening program of presentations and films.

Keio-NUS CUTE Center website: www.mixedrealitylab.org www.cutecenter.org
UKIYO is supported by a PMi2/connect British Council research cooperation award for Knowledge Transfer between the UK and Japan (Keio University).

“National Dance” under the Rising Sun

My latest paper will be published. Please check it out !

Yukihiko YOSHIDA,"'National Dance' under the Rising Sun, mainly from National Dance, Buyo Geijutsu and the activities of Takaya Eguchi",International Journal of Eastern Sports & Physical Education (ISSN:1738-0855),Oct,2009(Refereed)


“National Dance” under the Rising Sun, mainly from National Dance, Buyo Geijutsu and the activities of Takaya Eguchi


Keio Research Institute at SFC, Senior Visitng Researcher,
Yukihiko Yoshida


Abstract:


In Japan, with the exception of physical education, cultural control and the policy on dance were not discussed or analyzed for years prior to World War II due to political reasons.

However, in Germany, these subjects have been analyzed by Marion Kant and Laure Guilbert. This study aims to analyze these subjects clearly and make a list of Japanese materials and publications for Asian researchers in order to create a common foundation.

During the wartime, literal art such as novels was strongly controlled by the Japanese government, while dance, which was considered nonliteral art, was not so tightly controlled. The entire concept of dance mechanisms has been forgotten and hidden for years. There was a popular dance magazine called Buyo Geijutsu (Dance Art), in which leading artistes, including Takaya Eguchi and Baku Ishii, discussed and included discourses on the total impact of organization on cultural control. These leading artistes attempted to publish a similar magazine, Kokumin Buyo (National Dance), in Japan. Some of them studied dance in Germany and translated and introduced into Japan what they had learned.

In addition, it is important to analyze other dance-related fields in order to learn more about the circumstances of arts during the wartime. In the fields of music, opera, and theater, “National Music,” “National Opera,” and “National Theater” were proposed, and these were associated with “National Dance” in some manner. With regard to colonial policy, the propaganda generated by dance shows, such as Takarazuka Revue, played an important role. “Children Dance” was closely connected to cultural policy and ballroom dancing was prohibited.

In this study, I analyze and discuss the activities of Takaya Eguchi, one of the most renowned artistes. Eguchi was one of the pioneers of Japanese modern dance. In the year 2600 of the Jimmu Era (1940 AD), Eguchi choreographed and danced with Seiko Takada and Ishii in the work “Japan” for the memorial entertainment festival. Both Takada and Ishii were origin of Japanese modern dance. This festival represented “Hakkou Ichiu”—all eight corners of the world under one roof—a slogan used by Japan during World War II. It is said that this festival marked the beginning of great dance works in Japanese dance history.

Moreover, Eguchi and his wife Setsuko Miya went on a comfort tour of Asia Pacific for their performances. Miya published a written discourse before and after World War II. The discourse reveals how much of their true selves remained hidden during the wartime. In analyzing these phenomena and compiling the historical data and materials, the past and future of Japan and Japanese culture were determined.