PRESS RELEASE #02

January, 2021

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

Irikikanme and Satsuma Biwa in Satsumasendai City in Kagoshima
prefecture. Performance of performing arts seeking for the originof the national anthem “Kimigayo” is now available online.
“NOBODY KNOWS” is a project that rediscovers from the view of performing
arts beauties of Japan Heritage*1 and local culture. 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.
Under COVID-19 outbreak, online programs where visitors can enjoy history andculture of local regions and traditional performing arts live will be available instead oftours to the sites this year. Enjoy a trip to charms of hidden areas and Japanesetraditions.
*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.

《YouTube》 Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Pref.

Performing arts that trace the roots of Japan in
Irikikanme and Satsuma Biwa stream live
【Cast】Irikikanme Preserving Society, Hanayagi Genkuro (Nihon-buyo),
Tomoyoshi Kakushin (Satsuma Biwa), Inaba Akinori (Gagaku)【MC】Higashikawa Ryutaro (Kagoshima Historical Guide)

Irikikanme, the origin of “Kimigayo” which is handed down in Omiya Shrine, and astory of “Silk Road” which provided Satsuma with Biwa and entertainment frommainland China is performed in collaboration of Nihonbuyo, Satsuma Biwa, ancient
court music Gagaku and Shihokijinmai dance. Higashikawa Ryutaro, who belongs
to Kagoshima Exploration Association and appeared on a popular TV program
named “Bura Tamori”, facilitates the program and offers amusing talks about thelocal history and performing arts.
Background:
Samurai population accounted for a quarter of that of Satsuma Domain during theEdo period. The feudal lord Shimazu created his own outer castle system by setting
up more than 100 samurai residences called "Fumoto" around Yamashiro Castle toplace samurai around him despite the Edo governmental order that prohibited eachof domain to own more than two castles. This time, we offer traditional performing
arts performance that trace the roots of Japan at the Old Masuda residence(designated national important cultural property) at Iriki Fumoto in the central area.
Iriki Fumoto is the birthplace of the national anthem “Kimigayo”, its roots are highly
concerned with three pieces: Irikikanme, Satsuma samurai and Satsuma Biwa.
Irikikanme, which has been succeeded since the Kamakura period, contains
Juninintsurugimai dance which took a line of “May the reign of the Emperor
continue for a thousand, nay, eight thousand generations” from a Gaka (celebrationpoetry) in “Kokinwakashu”. The one who was impressed with it was Satsuma
samurai, Shimazu Tadayoshi in the Warring States period. Writing words for aSatsuma Biwa song “Mt. Horaisan” which was one of social graces for Satsuma
samurai at that time, he quoted the line above. 300 years after that, in the Meiji
period, infantry captain Oyama Iwao in Satsuma Domain, who was in charge ofestablishing the national anthem, took the lyrics from his favorite “Mt. Horaisan”, asa result “Kimigayo” officially became the Japanese anthem.

〇Irikikanme (Jininintsurugimai, Kinemai, Sarumemai, Shihokijinmai)

Since the Kamakura period, Irikikanme has been the Shinto ritual dedicated toOmiya Shrine as headquarters on November 23 and New Year's Eve. It is presumed
that the modern theatrical Irikikanme came into the world by mixing ancient Hayato
Kagura, Gagaku, and Izumo Kagura. Juninintsurugimai dance has the lyrics of thenational anthem "Kimigayo" and is said to have become the basis of the national
anthem. Although it had temporarily come to an end, it was revived in 1955. InApril 2020, Irikikanme was designated as an intangible folklore cultural asset
designated by Kagoshima Prefecture.
〇”Silk Road in Four Seasons”

[Profile]
Hanayagi Genkuro
Born on 1981 in Nara. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2003. Isknown 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.

Tomoyoshi Kakushin
Born in Asakusa, Tokyo in 1965. He contributed to further development ofSatsuma Biwa, a great achievement of his two grandfathers, with his master,Tsuruta Kinshi. He succeeded the name of his grandfather. He was awarded
prizes by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
and the NHK Chairman. He is active both in Japan and abroad, including performances hosted
by the National Theater of Japan. He has been in charge of the examination and training of all
the performing arts in many Taiga historical dramas including "Segodon" and special dramas.

Inaba Akinori
He started hichiriki at the age of 8 and studied under Togi Kanehiko of theImperial Household Agency when he was 11. He became a member of theJapan Gagaku Association in 1979, was selected for the Tokyo Gakuso in 1980
and participated in numerous gagaku performances with Ono Tadamaro. He
joined performances both domestically and internationally, CD production and numerous
contemporary music performances mainly at the National Theater of Japan.

Higashikawa Ryutaro
He puts "town walk" in the center of his activities. Based on the history andgeography of Kagoshima, he talks about the area as a guide on various
themes such as modernology, Neighborhood Heritage, rustic hot springs,
abandoned railways and microtopography. He is a Representative Director of
the NPO of a community development local forum and Kagoshima Exploration Association. He
cooperated in collecting historical materials for the Taiga historical drama "Segodon". He
appeared on a popular TV program "Bura Tamori" (# 98 Kagoshima, # 99 Satsuma's Miracle).

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