October, 2020

PRESS RELEASE #01

Japan Council of Performers Rights & Performing Arts Organizations [GEIDANKYO]

Enjoy a tour around history and a new type of traditional
performing arts live set in “Japan heritage”.
Online streaming will start from November 1st this year.
A project to develop “Tourism of Traditional Performing Arts Live”, NOBODY KNOWS.

"NOBODY KNOWS" is a project to develop a new form of tourism called "Tourism ofTraditional Performing Arts Live" by combining folk performance handed down to local
regions and performances from professional traditional performing arts at Japan
Heritage*1 across all over the country. Organized by Agency for Cultural Affairs,Government of Japan, Japan Arts Council, Japan Council of Performers Rights &Performing Arts Organizations as “Japan Cultural Expo” project*2 since 2019.
"NOBODY KNOWS" in 2020 will start from November 1st. Under COVID-19 outbreak,
online programs where visitors can enjoy history and culture of local regions andtraditional performing arts live will be available instead of tours to the sites this year.
Enjoy a trip to charms of hidden areas and Japanese traditions.
*1 Japan Heritage: An initiative by Agency for Cultural Affairs that certifies stories that tell Japanese culture andtraditions as "Japan Heritage" through history and charms across the nation. The purpose is to revitalize regions andpromote tourism by packaging tangible and intangible cultural properties in each region related to the story. As ofJune 2020, 104 locations have been certified.
*2 “Japan Cultural Expo” project: Projects, deployed throughout Japan, to promote Japanese cultural arts and spread
its diverse and universal appeal in anticipation of fostering momentum for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
and increasing foreign tourists.

[Development background: Local cultures and folk performances have faced a threatof extinction unless they aren't handed over to the next generation. Thinking about thefuture of tourism and the way of folk performance arts live in COVID-19 pandemic.]
The spread of the new corona virus has kept Matsuri (festivals) in various places1cancelled and it hard to control events that attract many people regarding infectious
prevention.
While it is challenging to hold the same format of tour as last year, “NOBODY KNOWS”
will deliver online programs making “before and after the travel 100 times more fun”,
where viewers can enjoy atmosphere of the live, in addition to learning about history.
The first program highlights Japan Heritage from Yamagata and Kanagawa, with thetheme of "faith in nature" born from the lives of Japanese people.
While exploring new business possibilities from challenges that both industries of "traveland tourism" and "Folk Performance" have faced since the surge of COVID-19 infection,“NOBODY KNOWS” challenges the online programs, which connects to the visiting
programs next year onward.
[Characteristics of the 2020 "NOBODY KNOWS" online program]▶ Virtual travel through the beautiful scenery from the local areas and images of therites and festivals.
▶ Trial on sightseeing experience of some inaccessible "Japan Heritage" in Japan.
▶ Deep comprehension of the story with fun about “Japan Heritage” through folk
performance handed down in each area and traditional performing art by professional.
▶ Guides and performer to give you clear understanding on charms of “Japan Heritage”
that might be missed by visiting without them.
▶ Opportunities to enjoy local foods by joining the online program. *Only available for somecontents[1st Program ①]

1st November (Sun) 2020 at Tsuruoka, Yamagata Pref.

An Online talk show among Dewa Sanzan Shrine seniorpriest, Noh performer and Yamabushi

2【Talk Guest】Yoshizumi Toshiki (senior priest of Dewa Sanzan Shrine), Yamai Tsunao(Noh performer), Sakamoto Daizaburo (Yamabushi)【MC】Asano Sho (Tsugaru Shamisen player)
The three mountains of Dewa (Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono) in Yamagata
Prefecture respectively represent the present, past, and future. The journey through thethree mountains has come to be known as a passage through death to life, “a pilgrimageof rebirth”, since the Edo period. Even now, Yamabushi training (called shugendo) isbeing carried out, and you can see a group of Yamabushi in white costumes climbing
the three mountains and soliciting donations throughout the city in the fall. This "Matsuno-Kanjin" is one of the mountain trainings in the winter that is held for a hundred days
from September 24th. The Shoreisai festival, which is held on the final day of December
31st at the summit of Mt. Haguro, is said to have originated from containing an epidemicand various rituals are performed. Yamabushi is an entity that absorbs the spiritual
power of nature through trainings and provide that power to people through prayer andperforming arts.
There are Yamabushi, who gains skills of coexisting with nature through the trainings,
and Noh performer who trains daily and embodies the world of the supernatural. Why
do they embody the power of nature? A talk show by the spiritual seekers living in thepresent will be broadcasted online from the field. *In February 2021, an online tour will
be available which introduces the video of "The Shoreisai Festival" and Buddhist
vegetarian food.
Date: 1300-1430, 1st November (Sun), 2020
Fee: Free (video is available until 31st December, 2020)
Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUijQum5WevbXbHQ3OolFKA[Profile]
Yoshizumi Toshiki
Chief director of Ceremonies at Dewasanzan-jinja Shrine and the generalmanager of Planning and Public Relations Office. He conveys Haguro groupold mountaineering asceticism to the present. Head of Myokoin, the ascetic
lodging at the foot of Haguroyama mountain.

3Yamai Tsunao
A Komparu school Noh player. Engages in the Noh spread and theenlightenment of “the heart of Japan” under the faith, “Noh is the world's
best art.” Holds many workshops for beginners and performances in schools.
Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Asset.

Director of Nonprofit

foundation “Association of Noh”, the 2014 cultural ambassador of the Agency for Cultural
Affairs. Performs overseas and costars and make original works with other genres artists.
Challenges new possibilities of Noh.

Sakamoto Daizaburou
Born in Chiba prefecture in 1975, a Buddhist monk based in Tohoku region.
Also as an artist, participated in "Yamagata Biennale," "International Art
Festival 2016 in Seto," and "Reborn-Art Festival 2019." Active as a writer
focusing on the connection between man and nature. His main writings
include "Buddhist monk and I" (little more), "Buddhist monk notebook" (Gijutsu-Hyohron),"Gods of the mountain" (A&F).

Asano Sho
Born in Miyagi prefecture, 1990. When he was 14, he was the youngest
person to win the highest rank A level of the All-Japan Tsugaru Shamisen
Contest and won for three consecutive years up to 2006, recognized in its Hallof Fame. While passing on folk song by oral tradition, he collaborates withmany artists inside and outside Japan. With his astounding performance skills and naturalcharm, his power to convey the fascination of Shamisen music stands above the rest.

[First program (2)]Tuesday November 3rd, 2020 to Sunday
January 2021, at Isehara (Kanagawa Prefecture)
An editor and an alpine photographer talk about the Mt. Oyama
Pilgrimage and traditional performing arts.

A virtual tour to “NOBODY KNOWS”.
【Cast】Lucas B.B (PAPERSKY), Miyake Gaku (Alpine Photographer),
Shimura Isao (Guide)【Performer】Hanayagi Genkuro（Japanese Classical Dance）,
Kineya Katsujuro (Shamisen)4【Video Production】Hisamatsu Shinichi（Theo Inc.）,
Sugawara Kota（KOTA SUGAWARA PHOTO STUDIO）

Free videos, the world of the Japanese heritage "Destination for the Faith andLeisure of Edo’s Commoners: the Mt. Oyama Pilgrimage with a large wooden sword",
will be uploaded which are depicted from a couple of perspectives, worshiping andperforming arts. Enjoy nature, history and traditional performing art that have been
passed down through the ages.

◯ Faith (walking in the mountains)
Mt. Oyama is also known as "the rainy mountain" and has long been a place forpraying for rain and huge harvest. During the Edo period, it became very popular
destination for a short trip since it is closer than Mt. Fuji, and it was said that onefifth of the population of Edo visited every year. Ukiyoe shows stylish Edo’s citizens
worship with a wooden sword by funding from a local community and a group ofprofessionals to form a "Ko (a group of pilgrimage)". They purified themselves inMt. Oyama’s waterfall, prayed in the accommodation at the foot of the mountainand finally headed to the summit.
This time, Mr. Lucas, an American creative director and editor-in chief of Perpersky
Magazine, Mr. Gaku Miyake, an alpine photographer, and Mr. Isao Shimura, a guide,
ascended the mountain while talking about history and nature.

5◯ Traditional Performing Arts (invitation to the Edo period)
A special performance of Japanese classical dance, “Nihon-buyo” and shamisen
associated with the Mt. Oyama's pilgrimage at the teahouse "Sekison" with splendor
of a view in the precincts of the Ohyama Afuri Shrine. How did the appearance ofthe stylish Edo citizen, the samurai and elderly women climbing up Mt. Oyama look
like? Playing multiple roles which is unique to Japanese classical dance is staged
and a flavor of the four seasons is unfolded on the emotional tone of the shamisen,which was loved by the citizens during the Edo period.

[Date] 3rd November (Tue) 2020 to 31st January(Sun) 2021
*English subtitles will be available after December[Fee] Free
[Questionnaire] 3rd November 2020 to 31th January 2021
From those who watched the video and answered the questionnaire, thirty people
will be drawn at random each month to win prizes of Mt. Oyama's "Charabuki (localfood)" and "A brochure for Mt. Oyama pilgrimage".
[Profile]
Lucas B.B.
Born in Baltimore, USA in 1971 and raised in San Francisco. Lucas has beencreating widescreen, inspirational and organic media since the age of 12. Hecame to Japan in 1993 the day after graduating from the University ofCalifornia. He was quick to find freelance work writing culture and lifestylepieces for TIME magazine, WIRED and the JAPAN TIMES. In 1996 he bought a straw hat; rolledup his A.P.C. shirt sleeves and published TOKION, the fabled magazine that put Japanese youth
culture on the global map. In 2002 Lucas began to wear cycle caps,

grew a beard

andcreated PAPERSKY. Via Papersky’s unique ethno-travel viewpoint he creates content thatseamlessly blends and bends time, culture and nature into a fresh new flavor for the future.
When Lucas isn’t walking 30km a day along Old Japanese paths or riding his bicycle in rural
Japan, he’s probably relaxing in his garden and drinking mint tea.

6Miyake Gaku
Born in Tokyo in 1964. Brought up in Fujino-cho (now Midori-ku,Sagamihara-shi), north of Tanzawa, and still resides there. Masters degree ofTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, department of environmentalprotection. A free-lance photographer after working at Yuzu Editing Studio,photograph department. He has photographed the Tanzawa mountains, Northern Alps, andMount Nyukasa, and other mountains around Japan. At the same time, he enjoys
photographing mountain-life, such as charcoal making. His main writings include "YAMAKEI
Alpen guide Tanzawa" (Yama-kei Publishers), "Charcoal Making Travelogue" (Soshinsha),and others.

Shimura Isao
Isehara tour guide. Born in 1955 in Isehara city. Engaged in sightseeing
promotion business at Isehara municipal office until retirement. As a second
career, became the Secretary General of Isehara Tourist Association from2018. Carries out history guides mainly for group tourists around Daisen andHyuga area.

Hanayagi GenkuroBorn on 1981 in Nara. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2003. Is
known for his colorful and powerful performance style which fascinates people.
Won the Incentive Award of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology in 2017. Received the new face award from Association ofDance Critics in 2013.

Kineya Katsujuro
Born on 1978 in Chiba. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts. Has shinysound and skillful technique. Plays in variety of performances such as Kabuki,
Japanese classic dance, and other concerts. Has won awards in playing
Tsugaru-shamisen as well.

[Related event]

3rd November (Tue) to 8th November (Sun), 2020
Isehara and the Mt. Oyama pilgrimage exhibition
by NOBODY KNOWS@ Sta.
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A special menu with cooking ingredients from Mt. Oyama
will be prepared at the restaurant.

An exhibition event which guides you to the world of NOBODY KNOWS will be heldat the popular restaurant "Sta." in Shibuya. A tour to Isehara and Mt. Oyama will
be reproduced by photographs and beautiful images by an alpine photographer
Gaku Miyake. In addition, an exclusive video which contained the performance of“Nihon-buyo”, Japanese classical dance, and shamisen with feels the Edo period will
be screened. The restaurant will offer the special menu using the ingredients fromMt. Oyama. Come and enjoy a virtual trip to Mt. Oyama, which used to be illustrated
alongside Mt. Fuji in Ukiyoe, its history and nature around it.
[Date] 3rd November (Tue) to 8th November (Sun), 2020, 14:00 to 21:00 (14:00 to 17:00
at November 8th)
[Venue] Sta. (11-7, Maruyamacho Shibuya-ku, Tokyo https://online-sta.com/)
The collaborative menu with Isehara will be provided at the upper restaurant during the exhibition(advance online booking is required).
[Fee] Admission free
As a countermeasure against COVID-19, hand antisepsis is done at the entrance as well as thenumber of visitors will be subject to be controlled depending on the situation.

NOBODY KNOWS
Organizer: Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, Japan Arts Council, Japan Council of Performers Rights& Performing Arts Organizations
Co-organizer：The local governments of the Japan Heritage Recognition, etc
Support: Ministry of the Environment

https://nobodyknows.tours/
Japan Council of Performers Rights & Performing Arts Organizations [GEIDANKYO][Mail] nobodyknows@geidankyo.or.jp
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